Tuesday, March 11, 2008

PRESS STATEMENT 11.3.08 

RE: HINDRAF WELCOMES PM’S STATEMENT TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES.

WISHES AND SENTIMENT OF THE INDIAN COMMUNITY VITAL “TO CHALK” THE FUTURE POLITICAL SCENARIO IN MALAYSIA.

PM SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TABLE AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT TO REPEAL THE EXISTING INTERNAL SECURITY ACT.

ALL ISA DETAINEES SHOULD BE RELEASED WITHOUT CONDITION. 

HINDRAF welcomes the statement by Prime Minister taking collective responsibilities for the defeat and mistakes committed by the Government. 

It is time the BN Government take cognisance of the wishes and sentiment if the Indian community “to chalk” the future political scenario in Malaysia. HINDRAF has played a vital role in shifting the sentiments of the Indian voters and have influenced the shift of “ political wave” of Chinese and Malay voters significantly. 

There is no doubt that the Chinese and Malays do not believe the accusations levelled against HINDRAF that its demands are extreme and are linked to terrorists. The Chinese and Malays sympathise with the plight of Indians and are not perturbed into believing the propaganda perpetrated by the BN controlled media levelling HINDRAF as an extremist organization. 

We wish to caution the Government that should HINDRAF continuously be ignored and suppressed by Government, it would have far reaching impact on the sentiments of all races in Malaysia for Malaysians have shown tremendous maturity in political thinking and discarded the race based politics.

Malaysians of races despised the Internal Security Act, which had served the personal agenda to ruling BN Government. If the Prime Minister is truly sincere in his statement that he had learnt and are willing to rectify the mistakes of his Government, he should release all existing ISA detainees with immediate effect without conditions and table the First Act of Parliament to repeal the Internal Security Act. This would serve as the beginning of the return of “Rakyat trust” on BN Government. The PM should also sincerely assure the Indian community that their plight would be the priority of future Government policies.

 

P Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

HINDRAF

Currently in New Delhi

Now or Never, Wake Up Makkal Sakthi

This winning only took us across the 1st hurdle, there are many more task to be covered fast or we will be left behind. I have seen enough of political games in this country. Now is the time to demand what belongs to us. Fair play, fair participation is the utmost agenda to start with. We should not compromise and be sidelined with sweet talks. We have supported and became equal partners in giving the winning vote. So its only appropriate for BA to satisfy our needs by installing Indians in top decision making post. Anything short of that will mean disastrous defeat for the Indians after winning election. I will take up the cause to any level with makkal sakthi to realise our demands. As per our 18 point demands,  it is part and puzzle of the positions Indians going to hold in the states, nothing short will realise our demands. No short changing, the time is right now and not later. No excuses should be an option to delay or postphone participation. Now or never. Indians have lost their voice due to this giving in policy. Now get working and negotiate the best deals....we meet again.

Monday, March 10, 2008

MAKKAL SAKTHI IS TSUNAMI

Great Victory For Our Indians.....Reps Must Now Fulfill Election Promises and Stay Away From Race Politics. 

We  must always maintain balance representation to further our course in the future. Nothing should fall short with lame excuses citing all kind laws and unwarranted statements. 

Makkal Sakthi will not tolerate any nonsence by any reps who tries to down play promises made to the Indian Community. Makkal Sakthi will keep watching every movement from now on.

Makkal Sakthi is a great force by any means, Makkal Sakthi is the real Tsunami which sent BN to be underdogs. BN failed miserablely to answer the plight of the ethnic Indian community who highlighted their greviences through various methods. 

BN took it for granted that Indians are fools and can make use of them for electoral means and neglect them thereafter. Makkal Sakthi have proven to the world that the Indians in this coutry are not fools or divided. We are united always and ready to move the next wave of action where applicable. From now on Makkal Sakthi will rise to question any short comings by the Fed Govt and State Govt. 

No reps should think election is over and its time for honey moon or making big bucks, all reps are reminded to buck up and work hard towards building a just society with equal rights to all. All race and religion in this country should be treated equaly without any bias. 

To those selfish reps who fail the rakyat by warming up their chair either from BN or Opposition so far go look for a decent job and never come back. To the new ones and those older ones who generously fought for the rights of all community makkal sakthi wish you good luck. 

BE REMINDED, YOU ARE BEING WATCHED, YOU HAVE A TIME FRAME OF ANOTHER 5 YEARS TO SHOW YOU CARE FOR THE RAKYAT. MAKKAL SAKTHI.
Malaysian Stocks, Ringgit, Slump After Abdullah Poll Losses 

By Chan Tien Hin

March 10 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysia's stock index slumped the most since April 2001 and the ringgit slid after the ruling coalition government lost the two-thirds majority it has held in parliament for 34 years.

The benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index tumbled 76.31, or 5.9 percent, to 1,220.02 at 9:08 local time, set for its biggest drop since April 4, 2001. The ringgit weakened 1 percent to 3.1983, the biggest drop since June 8, 2007, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

While the National Front coalition kept control of Southeast Asia's third-largest economy after the March 8 election, its reduced majority and loss of power in five of 12 states may see government-sponsored infrastructure projects face increased scrutiny, said Mushtaq Ibrahim, who manages about $1.4 billion at Amanah SSCM Asset Management Bhd.

``We're entering uncharted territory,'' he said. Foreign investors ``have been selling down the market in the last month over external factors, now they have this domestic issue that will cause them more worries,'' he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chan Tien Hin in Kuala Lumpur atthchan@bloomberg.netManirajan Ramasamy in Kuala Lumpur atrmanirajan@bloomberg.net

Terpulang Untuk Kamu Menilai Nya

Layari

http://antikhairy.blogspot.com/

Kami hanya menerima video ini yang tertera skandal kepimpinan Pemuda UMNO Malaysia dengan nama kepimpinan tersebut. Namun kami tidak akan menyiarkan nama itu lagi dan terpulang kepada pelayar untuk menilai. Video ini dikatakan diambil sewaktu umur mudanya

Kesahihan tidak terjamin.

ABOVE 18 PLS. WILL BE REMOVE AFTER 3 HRS

Sunday, March 9, 2008

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Voters Go Secular, Snub Ruling Coalition
By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 9 (IPS) - Malaysia's ruling National Front (NF) coalition has suffered its biggest setback in five decades of unbroken power, losing five state governments and the two-thirds majority it enjoyed in national parliament. 

The big gainer in Saturday's general elections was a three-party ‘secular’ opposition led by reformist leader Anwar Ibrahim whose appeal has risen among voters frustrated by uninspiring leadership, failure to curb rampant corruption and rising ethnic and religious tensions. 

At the 222-seat federal parliament the ruling coalition managed 139, a simple majority, but nevertheless a government that is expected to be stable enough to continue with its current neo-liberal policies. 

However, the main aim of the opposition parties -- including the People's Justice Party, the Islamic party PAS, and the Democratic Action Party -- to deny the NF (or Barisan Nasional) a two-thirds majority, and thereby block unpopular amendments to the constitution, has been achieved. 

Although he may form a new federal government with a simple majority, the defeat is personally humiliating for Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, already under pressure to quit and hand over the reins to his deputy Najib Razak. 

In an encouraging sign of political maturity there was no outward display of racial tension or clashes as was the case when the pro-Muslim-Malay ruling coalition suffered reverses in 1969, leading to race riots. 

Saturday’s outcome is seen as a stunning personal reversal of fortunes for Badawi who had led the Front to its best ever result in the last elections in 2004, winning 91 percent of the parliamentary seats and 12 of Malaysia's 13 states. 

Among the five states that the government lost were industrial Selangor and Penang in the west as well as Perak in the north. Eastern Kedah and Kelantan states fell to the fundamentalist PAS party. 

A key issue in the elections was disillusionment among ethnic Chinese and Indians, minorities with complaints of discrimination related mostly to the New Economic Policy (NEP), an affirmative action policy that gives Malays, invariably of the Muslim faith, preference in jobs, business and education. 

Poor Malays, left out of the NEP, also seem to have voted opposition in large numbers, convinced by arguments set out by Anwar during the election campaign that the NEP had been hijacked by rich and influential Malays. 

The programme was designed 37 years ago to help the majority Malays catch up with the wealthier Chinese. But minorities complain that the system has continued despite the rising living standards of Malays. 

Malays make up 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people, while Chinese account for 25 percent and Indians eight percent. Each ethnic group is represented by a party in the NF, an arrangement that has worked to keep down racial tensions in the past. 

"All races were fed up with the government and decided to vote opposition this time," said Ragu Kesavan, vice-chairman of the Malaysian Bar. "It is a healthy sign that the people are gaining in political maturity and that real democracy is possible." 

"The opposition victory is good for multi-racial politics and the possible birth of a two-party system," he told IPS. "For too long one party has dominated political life in this country." 

"This is a defining moment, unprecedented in our nation's history," said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in a late night victory speech. "The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognise that all Malaysians, regardless of race and color, culture and religion, are a nation of one." 

Other factors behind the "revolt of the masses" are Badawi’s failure to fight corruption, as promised during the last elections, and seeming indifference to runaway inflation. 

Across the country urban-Chinese majority seats fell like dominoes to the Chinese-based opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), apparently angered by Badawi’s policies and performance. 

"This is a political tsunami, this is unprecedented, this is a new era in Malaysian politics,'’ said Steven Gan, editor of Malaysiakini.com, an independent online news magazine. 

"One happy outcome of this opposition victory is that a two-party political system is now possible," Gan told IPS. "This victory is excellent for democracy to take root in Malaysia." 

"The opposition victory will lead to a fundamental change in the way politics is conducted in this country," said Stanley Koh, analyst and former MCA leader. "The results will rewrite politics in the country." 

Opposition lawmakers in their campaigns had blamed Badawi for failing to hold back overzealous Muslim officials from demolishing Hindu and Chinese temples. 

"He did not defend our constitutional right to freedom of religion and protection of our places of worship," said lawyer and human rights activists Ramu Kandasamy. 

"The people have shown their unhappiness at the polls," he said. "Mr Abdullah has to heal the wounds. Our hurt is deep and it will take a long time to heal." 

Ruling party leaders had shown concern mid-way into the 13-day campaign when rallies by de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim started drawing unexpectedly large crowds. 

His "we are all equal" message had a magical effect on minorities who had suffered from discrimination in education, jobs, financial assistance and religious policy. 

For the first time in decades several socialists will see the inside of parliament, promising lively debates in the house and affording an opportunity to address serious public grouses. 

Among left wing winners are Dr Nasir Hashim and Dr Michael Jeyakumar, the man who defeated Samy Vellu, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) that has come to be despised by ethnic Indians. 

The opposition also made a dramatic sweep of the majority of the constituencies in the capital. Among the winners is Nuzrul Izzah, the 27-year-old daughter of Ibrahim, making her debut in politics and defeating a sitting woman minister. 

"This is a defining moment, unprecedented in our nation's history," said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. "The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognise that all Malaysians, regardless of race and color, culture and religion, are a nation of one." 

Press Statement from Mr. Waythamoorthy on the 12th GE, and, further demands from the grassroots

Attn: The Hon. Mr. Ahmad Anwar Adnan,
        Consul General,
        Consulate General of Malaysia,
        Los Angeles.



Dear Sir,

Below is the press statement from Mr. Waythamoorthy. I extend his call further and demand that the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and, the Malaysian government fulfill the following four demands immediately:

1. Free Mr. Uthayakumar, Mr. Manoharan, Mr. Kengadharan, Mr. Ganabathirau and Mr. Vasanthakumar from the illegal and unlawful incarceration immediately.

2. Appoint Mr. Uthayakumar to the post of 2nd DPM

3. Appoint Mr. Waythamoorthy to the post of Minister of Justice.

4. Appoint Mr. Manoharan to the post of Deputy Chief Minister of the state of Selangor.

This Sunday morning has witnessed a new wind of change blowing on the Malaysian landscape. Our people have united to reject the atrocities, arrogance and excesses of the former administration. We demand changes of our elected officials and civil servants who in actuality serve the people of Malaysia. Heed our call and make the changes we demand. Let us work together to make our country achieve and celebrate her true greatness, the diversity of her people.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Bhuvan Govindasamy.

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

HINDRAF
135-3 Jalan Toman 7
Kemayan Square 70200
Seremban.

09 March 2008

BRIEF PRESS STATEMENT

HINDRAF congratulates opposition parties for their success.

The opposition parties should appreciate the "Makkal Sakthi" wave
created by HINDRAF as it is the root cause for change in mindset and political
maturity of all races.

HINDRAF demands that DAP and Keadilan appoint a deputy Menteri Besar/Chief
Minister in the state of Selangor, Penang and Perak to show their sincerity towards
the Indian community.

HINDRAF urges DAP and Keadilan to appoint M. Manoharan as deputy Menteri Besar
for the state of selangor.

HINDRAF cautions DAP and Keadilan not to shortchange/betray the indian
community and the trust placed upon them.

P. Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in New Delhi

The Satr Online Reports :

Manoharan drawing up Kota Alam Shah agenda from Kamunting

KLANG: M. Manoharan, the newly-elected state assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah, is prepared to work for his constituency despite being detained under the Internal Security Act at the Kamunting detention camp.

S. Pushpaneela, who visited her husband at the camp Sunday morning, said that her husband was extremely happy after finding out he had won from the midnight news on TV.

“He is ready and waiting to serve and has started to draw up the agenda for Kota Alam Shah in the camp,” she said when contacted.

Pushpaneela added that their four children were very excited and had been waiting to meet their father to congratulate him personally.

Manoharan, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser who is currently detained under the ISA, won the Kota Alam Shah state seat by a 7,184-vote majority over incumbent Ching Su Chen of Barisan Nasional on Saturday.

Pushpaneela on Sunday brought back a statement written by Manoharan for his constituents and voters.

Manoharan said the 12th general election had produced outstanding results and many surprises and the confidence placed on the DAP by the voters was translated into victory.

“I take this opportunity to thank each and every voter who voted for me.

“I also take this opportunity to congratulate my wife, family members, all the DAP stalwarts and party workers who worked tirelessly to ensure my victory,” he said.

“I assure the constituents and voters that I will honour all my pre-election promises and shall ensure that the voices of the constituents are heard at the state assembly,” he said.

Manoharan added that the election results clearly indicated a paradigm shift asking for a change in the administration.

He said the change was necessary and healthy and would certainly make the administration more accountable and would bring the administration closer to the people.


HARAPAN BARU UNTUK MALAYSIA

Hari ini, melalui kertas undi, anda telah mendengar suara hati anda dengan sepenuh tekad bahawa masa untuk perubahan sudah tiba.

Rakyat Malaysia telah bersuara. Ini adalah detik bersejarah, yang luar biasa dalam sejarah negara kita.

Hari ini lebaran baru telah dibuka. Rakyat telah mengundi dengan berani dan terbuka untuk melangkah ke satu era di mana kerajaan yang dibentuk mestilah bersifat terbuka dan mengiktiraf semua rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira agama, bangsa, dan budaya adalah satu rakyat yang bersatu.

Rakyat telah meluahkan tanpa sebarang ragu bahawa mereka tegas mahukan akauntabiliti, ketelusan dan kedaulatan undang-undang.

Hari ini, perpaduan dan persefahaman bersama antara rakyat telah menang.

Esok, kita akan memulakan gerak kerja untuk membina masa depan yang lebih cerah untuk rakyat Malaysia, dengan saling berpimpin tangan dan berganding bahu ke bahu.

Inilah harapan baru untuk Malaysia!

ANWAR IBRAHIM

 

A NEW DAWN FOR MALAYSIA

My fellow Malaysians,

Today at the ballot box, you listened to your heart with the firm conviction that the time for change has arrived.

The people of Malaysia have spoken. This is a defining moment, unprecedented in our nation’s history.

Today a new chapter has opened. The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognize that all Malaysians, regardless of race, culture and religion are a nation of one.

The people have expressed in no uncertain terms that they want accountability, transparency and the rule of law.

Today unity, consensus, and mutual respect triumphed.

Tomorrow, we start working to build a brighter future, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. This is a new dawn for Malaysia.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Malaysia's former leader calls on prime minister to step down after election fiasco

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday urged his successor to resign in the wake of stunning election losses, and apologized for hand-picking him in 2003 to lead the country.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament and five of 13 states to the opposition in Saturday's general elections — the coalition's worst setback in its 51-year rule since independence.

"I think he should accept responsibility for ... this massive defeat," Mahathir told reporters. "He needs to consider stepping down."

Mahathir, who resigned in 2003 after 22 years in power, choose Abdullah as his successor but turned against him Abdullah two years ago and has frequently accused him of corruption and nepotism. He has said in the past that Abdullah's deputy, Najib Razak, would have made a better prime minister.

"I'm sorry that I apparently made the wrong choice," he said. "My greatest concern is that the leader doesn't understand the situation." He said Abdullah and others in the coalition "have become so arrogant."

Earlier Sunday, Abdullah dismissed suggestions that he would now face pressure from party members to step down.

"I don't know who would pressure me. There is nothing at this time," he said.

Mahathir cited voters' frustrations over price hikes and alleged nepotism as the main reason for the poor election showing, which gave the National Front 139 parliamentary seats and the opposition alliance 82 seats with one still to be decided. Previously, the opposition held only 19 seats.

He said successive high economic growth has not trickled down to ordinary Malaysians, who were now suffering from the rising cost of living.

"And then, of course, they've observed that this government is run by one family," he said, accusing Abdullah of favoring his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, a National Front member.

Malaysians also were upset over the rise in crime and seething ethnic and religious tensions. Some 60 percent of the country's 27 million people are Muslim Malays, while a quarter are ethnic Chinese and 8 percent ethnic Indians.

Discontent over policies that favor Malays in education, business and job opportunities led some 20,000 Indians to protest last November in a rare show of anger. They also complained their Hindu temples were unjustly demolished.

But critics say many of the problems facing the country, including racial tensions, inflation and judicial corruption, have their roots in Mahathir's rule

"Twenty-two years of Mahathir's maladministration and dismantling of democracy and weakening of institutions came to fruition in the last four years," said Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, a political commentator.

The Associated Press

Press TV, Tehran, Iran Reports

Mahathir blames Abdullah for election loss 
Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:20:34 
Ex-Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad
Ex-Malaysian premier says his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has 'destroyed' the ruling coalition after disastrous weekend elections. 

Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who led the ruling United National Malays Organization (UMNO) which helms the Barisan Nasional coalition (BN) for 22 years before stepping down in 2003, lashed out at the worst-ever electoral performance by the ruling coalition. 

"In my view, Abdullah has destroyed UMNO, destroyed the BN and he has been responsible for this," Mahathir told reporters Sunday. 

He also suggested that Abdullah resign, and said he had made a mistake in selecting him as prime minister. 

Mahathir has previously said he never intended for Abdullah to serve more than one term, and that he should have opted instead for influential deputy prime minister Najib Razak who is now leader-in-waiting. 

The Barisan Nasional suffered its worst ever result in Saturday's polls with opposition Islamic and reformist groups winning control of five states. 

Abdullah's multi-racial national front coalition won just a simple majority in parliament, and his future as leader is in doubt after he saw a record parliamentary majority from the last election in 2004 collapse to the weakest level ever. 

Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects, Mahathir began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption. 

HE/BGH
 

Blogger Elected Into Malaysian Parliament

A CNET Blogger to get elected into Malaysia Parliament, and not because of dead voters too!

In case you’ve not heard, a tsunami seems to be overtaking Malaysia, in the state of Penang where our counterpart from Malaysia Jeff Ooi has apparently been elected into the Malaysia Parliament!

A desperate search for information through the internet brought me only to Wikipediafor the most updated results of the elections updated on an almost live basis.

What happened to mainstream media? Are they on an embargo as the National Front tries to rig withold the results?

Which brings me to the question : how much did new media play a part in the results of this Malaysian elections?

Can other governments take away some critical lessons from it?

Let’s take a look : 

Snapshot from Wikipedia 9th March 2008 3pm:

Part of the opposition campaign will take place in cyberspace
and new media, utilising new technologies such as blogsSMS' andYouTube.
Currently major newspapers and television stations, which are partly owned by parties in the government coalition, barely mention the opposition.[18] On March 2, PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang challenged Abdullah Badawi to hold a televised debate similar to those held by U.S. presidential candidates. But government leaders stated there was no place for such debates in Malaysia, claiming the focus should be on debating with locals concerning local issues affecting them.[19]

In terms of raising funds, the Opposition has appealed to the public through websites and blogs for supporters to contribute funds through credit cards and bank transfers to help them print campaign posters and hold public forums. The Opposition has pointed out that they cannot match the ruling coalition's massive spending power.[19]


It is public knowledge that mainstream media is tightly controlled by the Malaysian government. So the opposition had to rely heavily on new media and even recruit popular blogger Jeff Ooi to join their cause. Jeff used his blog to raise funds and now a landslide victory over the incumbents in Penang is looming with even a remote possibility of Jeff becoming the next governor of one of Malaysia’s most powerful states, regional base to tech giants like Intel, Dell, and Motorola

Another example on Wikipedia, something which you’ll hardly read on mainstream Malaysian media :


Allegations of fraud

The General Elections have fueled complaints that a subservientElection Commissiongerrymanderingvote fraud, a compliant media, misuse of government resources and massive vote buying gives the National Front or Barisan Nasional an unfair advantage.[21] It has been highlighted to the Election Commission of Malaysia that its electoral role has been suspect, because of the discovery that it contains nearly 9,000 people aged more than 100. This raises the suspicions that the books are contaminated with dead voters which leaves the election vulnerable to fraud.[22]

Further discoveries of people who have been born in the same year with having different identity cards (IC) and living in many different localities, where done by Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) who have been registered to vote in various places throughout the country. These issues brought up would lead to whether the elections were fair or not.[23]


Although I know Wikipedia is not exactly a reliable knowledge base that can be cited in academic research, still in this case it is the only source that I’ve found enough information on what I want to know about the Malaysian elections as an outsider. Not much information could be found on mainstream media sites. An award-winning Malaysian alternative news site Malaysiakini that seems to have the latest scoop cannot be accessed. Internet censorship? Overloading of bandwidth? From one of theblogs I found :

(8 Mar 2008, 11.15pm) It's a bit of disappointment .... no, make that a BIG disappointment .... not being able to get the news fast from the mainstream media. In fact, news continue to trickle in at snail's pace from that source so much so that I have to resort to looking at Malaysiakini which has done a great job with their reports from the ground. However, Malaysiakini's server seems to have crashed and it is now inaccessible. I hope they can go online again fast because we are starved of the latest developments. Really starved. BTW, before it crashed, I did read that Dr Koh has conceded defeat and has formally informed the Penang Governor. He has also promised a smooth transition of power. The DAP is delighted with this win and I congratulate them. I especially congratulate Jeff Ooi. It's tremendous that a blogger has managed to get himself into Parliament. But I wonder who'll be Penang's next Chief Minister?


Exposing fraud through blogs and Wikipedia, fund raising online through blogs, Youtube, SMS, to counter a mainstream media tightly-controlled by the incumbents, using new media seemed to have been the only way against an opponent with a huge warchest and control of the mainstream media.

And did the opposition use it effectively to demolish the 2/3 majority of the incumbents indeed, far surpassing most expectations.

While the results are still streaming in and may be subjected to rigging change,
some things are for sure:

Malaysia will never be the same again.

Campaigning will never be the same again.

Reaching the masses will never be the same again.


Hindraf : Brief Press Statement

HINDRAF
135-3 Jalan Toman 7
Kemayan Square 70200
Seremban.

09 March 2008

BRIEF PRESS STATEMENT

HINDRAF congratulates opposition parties for their success.

The opposition parties should appreciate the "Makkal Sakthi" wave
created by HINDRAF as it is the root cause for change in mindset and political
maturity of all races.

HINDRAF demands that DAP and Keadilan appoint a deputy Menteri Besar/Chief
Minister in the state of Selangor, Penang and Perak to show their sincerity towards
the Indian community.

HINDRAF urges DAP and Keadilan to appoint M. Manoharan as deputy Menteri Besar
for the state of selangor.

HINDRAF cautions DAP and Keadilan not to shortchange/betray the indian
community and the trust placed upon them.

P. Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in New Delhi

Malaysia vote closes, PM's leadership at stake

Malaysia's Parliament in Kuala Lumpur

The final voting results are unlikely to be clear until later today


Tension rose in a Malaysian general election today after opposition supporters squared off against police in two places over suspicions of vote fraud that could tarnish the poll's outcome.

Malaysia's ruling coalition seems certain to win the poll, called before it was due in May 2009 and widely viewed as a referendum on the rule of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The electoral system itself was also on trial as opposition parties accused the multi-racial Barisan Nasional coalition of vote-rigging to continue its five-decade-long grip on power. In the worst incident of violence so far, police in northeastern Terengganu state fired tear gas and water cannon to scatter a mob that attacked them with sticks and stones, smashing the windscreens of three police cars, local television said.

Police arrested 22 people, mainly supporters of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS). The fracas erupted after PAS supporters confiscated identity cards seized from bus passengers they suspected were unregistered voters. On the northern island of Penang, a crowd of about 300 people, mostly opposition supporters, taunted riot police interspersed with chants of "Reformasi and "God is great". A phone survey on election eve showed non-Muslim voters were set to deliver a protest vote against the coalition, said Ibrahim Suffian, of local market-research firm, the Merdeka Center. It even showed signs of a protest vote among the Muslim majority, which is made up almost entirely of ethnic Malays and generally votes for the main ruling party UMNO.

Giving the opposition a chance 
Voting began just after dawn at about 8 000 polling booths across the Southeast Asian nation, from remote villages on Borneo island to the main towns and cities of peninsular Malaysia. The final result is unlikely to be clear until later today. The economy has been growing at a 6% annual clip but inflation and a likely US economic slowdown is causing worries. "The people are already fed up," said Sharil Azrul, an Internet entrepreneur on the northern island of Penang. "Prices have been rising. We want the opposition to have a chance."

Race relations have become a big issue in a country that has long been proud of the racial harmony among its majority Muslim Malays, ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. Opposition rallies have drawn big crowds, especially Chinese and Indian voters unhappy with Abdullah's Malay-dominated coalition. Chinese and Indians make up around a third of the population of 26 million and some complain the government discriminates in favour of Malays, when it comes to education, jobs, financial assistance and religious policy.

Abdullah told voters on election eve they could cause instability and chaos if they abandoned Barisan Nasional - an oft-repeated warning that is usually code for racial turmoil. Barisan holds 90 %of the seats in the outgoing federal parliament and political experts say Abdullah's continued leadership could be in jeopardy if his majority falls back below 80%, or around 178 seats in the new 222-seat parliament.

Abdullah said after voting in his home town of Kepala Batas, in a rice-growing area of Penang, that the opposition was using charges of vote-rigging as an excuse in case it fared badly. Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat but banned from standing for election because of a corruption conviction, said opposition parties could win a third of federal parliamentary seats despite electoral fraud.

PAS leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat also accused Barisan of cheating, saying his supporters had found a member of the prime minister's main ruling party in possession of 28 identity cards. His party controls Kelantan, the only opposition-held state, and Barisan is going all-out win it back after 18 years of PAS rule. - Reuters

Abdullah at Risk After Losing Malaysian Supermajority

By Angus Whitley and Stephanie Phang

March 9 (Bloomberg) -- Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi's hold on power in Malaysia is in doubt after the best performance in 50 years by an opposition that wants to scrap legalized preferences for the ethnic Malay majority, help the poor and battle corruption.

While the National Front rulingcoalition kept control of the government after yesterday's election, it lost the two- thirds majority it has enjoyed in parliament -- a free hand that has helped it to consolidate power. Opposition parties led by a new multiracial party promising to fight poverty and graft won support from ethnic Indians and Chinese, as well as Malays.

``You can't lead a coalition that loses this badly and stay in power,'' said Ooi Kee Beng, an analyst at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ``He should resign. The coalition is in crisis because it can no longer claim it represents all the races.''

Abdullah's United Malays National Organisation, which leads the ruling coalition of race-based parties, lost power in five of 12 states at stake, including Malay-majority Kelantan and Kedah, the premier's home state of Penang.

``We have done very badly across the board, not just in Kelantan,'' saidAnnuar Musa, UMNO's head in the northeastern state, which the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party won.

Third-Largest Economy

The Chinese-based Democratic Action Party took every state and parliamentary seat it contested in Penang. The National Front coalition has won the other seven states in Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, according to the Election Commission.

The National Front has won 137 of 222 parliamentary seats, with the opposition at 82, according to the latest data from the Election Commission. The opposition's 37 percent of parliament exceeds 1969's 34 percent.

Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, 60, a well-known moderate Islamist who was imprisoned during the last election, coordinated the opposition campaign and his multiethnic People's Justice Party won 31 seats, up from one in 2004.

``This is the start of our mission to implement our reform agenda for a multi-racial Malaysia,'' Anwar said in an interview just after 4 a.m.

Anwar had been sacked in 1998 and later found guilty of having homosexual relations and of trying to cover up that alleged crime -- allegations he denied. The sex charge was overturned in 2004.

Accepting Defeat

Abdullah, 68, said earlier that coalition leaders who lost their seats should accept defeat. He declined to answer questions about how the government might change its policies after the election.

``At the moment, there's no one pressuring me'' to step down, he told reporters before going home from UMNO's Kuala Lumpur headquarters at about 3 a.m.

The last time the opposition won a third of parliament, in 1969, opposition party victory parades prompted a bloody backlash and the prime minister later resigned. Malaysia's police chief, Musa Hassan, yesterday banned any election celebrations.

Voting went smoothly yesterday, with just one incident in the eastern state of Terengganu where supporters of PAS, as the Islamic party is known, tried to block two buses they suspected contained unregistered voters.

Schools, Homes, Jobs

Malaysia's Indians and Chinese together are a third of the country's 27 million population. UMNO governs with junior Chinese and Indian partners, who have been criticized for accepting an affirmative-action policy that gives Malays educational, housing and job preferences.

Works Minister Samy Vellu, the top ethnic Indian leader in Malaysia's ruling coalition, lost his seat, as did Koh Tsu Koon, the head of one of the coalition's main Chinese-based parties.

``This is the biggest defeat for our party since our founding 40 years ago,'' Koh said late last night. His party Gerakan had been in the opposition when it first won control of Penang in 1969.

``The people have shown their lack of confidence in the coalition in its present form and shape,'' said Tricia Yeoh, director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, an independent research institute in Kuala Lumpur. ``It's a slap on their faces and a wake-up call.''

Anwar's multiethnic People's Justice Party co-operated with the DAP and PAS against the government, and has pledged to scrap the race-based policy as unjust and a drag on economic growth.

Cheaper Fuel

PAS, after suffering a setback in the 2004 election, dropped its goal of turning Malaysia into an Islamic state from this year's manifesto, promising free education, health services, low-cost housing, cheaper fuel and a minimum wage instead.

Anwar played a key role in moderating the pro-Islamic stance of PAS nationwide and rallying the opposition, said analysts including Ibrahim Suffian, director of the Merdeka Center, an independent Malaysian research group.

``The opposition parties have really gotten their act together in terms of strategizing and they have their icon of a leader in Anwar,'' said Maznah Mohamed, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapore.

To contact the reporter on this story: Angus Whitley in Kuala Lumpur atawhitley1@bloomberg.netStephanie Phang in Kuala Lumpur atsphang@bloomberg.net

Undur Lah, Pak Lah!

    Any other political leader whose party had been so humiliated as UMNO was at this election would by now have tendered his or her resignation.  Abdullah Badawi however, is slow on the uptake.  He does not respond to subtle signals, even though there was nothing subtle about voters’ rejection of his leadership.  The only way to get his attention would be to hit his thick skull with a two-by-four lumber, metaphorically speaking of course.

            At a press conference early this morning he declared, “I don’t know who is being pressured (to step down), I’m not resigning.”  At best, that reflects a leader totally out of touch with the harsh reality; at worse, the bravado of an idiot.  With Abdullah, it is both.

            If UMNO members do not complete what the voters had set out to do in this election – that is, get rid of Abdullah – then the next elections would be even uglier.  If former UMNO leader and Prime Minister Mahathir was accurate in his assessment that the party can no longer be reformed from within ( a sentiment I share), then we are indeed watching the beginning of the end for UMNO.  The implosion has begun.

            Nothing is inevitable, however.  This once proud party could indeed regain its luster and the citizens’ confidence if it were to thoroughly cleanse itself.  As with a fish, the rot begins at the head. Chopped off the head, and unlike a fish, with a viable organization a fresh, unblemished head will emerge ready to take over, as with a hydra.

            Fortunately the party has a chance to do this soon.  Its Supreme Council members must move forward the party’s leadership conference that was postponed to this August.  The council should also rescind its earlier “tradition” of there being no contest for its top posts.  It should open up the process and loosen the rules.  There is no need for a prospective candidate to line up support from umpteen divisions.  To discourage frivolous candidates, institute the payment of deposits, as with the general elections.

            Those two initiatives would immediately open up the field. UMNO could then preview more candidates instead of restricting itself to the same tired old faces.  New faces of course would not guarantee change.  We have already seen many young leaders in UMNO who are only too quick to learn and too eager to acquire the unsavory traits of their elders.

 

 A New Dawn for Malaysia

 As Anwar Ibrahim rightly observes, this election marks “a defining moment” in the history of the nation and the opening of “a new chapter.”  It is indeed a new dawn for Malaysia, a pivotal point in its politics.  He can say that with considerable authority.  More than any other person, Anwar was responsible this remarkable reshaping of the Malaysian political landscape.  Even though he was not allowed to contest this election, he campaigned actively.

            He was also instrumental in aligning the opposition parties. Those parties also worked closely together in 1999 and 2004 elections, but without Anwar’s personal involvement they did not achieve much.  Clearly the Anwar factor is real and remains formidable.

            The academics will no doubt have their own voluminous analyses of this election, the most significant turning point in Malaysian politics.  I wish only to highlight one positive and refreshing trend.  This election saw all parties fielding many new and young candidates.  Two young fresh talents deserve scrutiny for different reasons, but both reflect the greater political dynamics.

            One is Nurrul Izzah, Anwar’s daughter who defeated Welfare Minister Shahrizat Jalil in the Lembah Pantai constituency which included the upscale community of Bangsar and the University ofMalaya campus.  Unlike many of her cabinet colleagues, Shahrizat was a competent minister.  She also treated her novice political opponent civilly and with respect, rare among UMNO politicians.  They have a penchant for demonizing their opponents.

            Nurrul Izzah’s considerable talent (she after all has a graduate degree from Hopkins) and appeal aside, her victory reflects the waning support of UMNO among urban sophisticated voters.

            On the other hand, the fate of another young candidate, Abdullah’ son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, provides an amusing contrast.  A year or two earlier Khairy, using the “protection” of his father-in-law, managed to ascend to the number two position in UMNO Youth san a contest or election.  This time he was catapulted to contest the hitherto safe rural parliamentary seat of Rembau.  Despite being challenged by an unknown school teacher, Khairy managed only to squeak through.  UMNO has problems even in the Malay heartland.

            Obviously this Oxford graduate was attempting to ride on his father-in-law’s coattail, except that Khairy made the mistake of not recognizing that his father-in-law had no coattails; he was naked!

 

Non-Political Lessons From This Election

 For Malaysians who rely on the mainstream media or who are guided by their opinion shapers, the results of this election would be a shocker.  For those who follow the Internet however, this was exactly what we had expected.

            While the pundits in the mainstream media were all wet in their prognostications – they all confidently predicted a return of Barisan’s supra-majority – Raja Petra of Malaysia-Today was spot on in his overall predictions.  He also predicted a significantly reduced majority for Abdullah and a greatly enhanced one for Najib.

            Mainstream media readers may not have heard of “Chegubard” Badrul Hisham Shaharin, Khairy’s political opponent in Rembau, but ‘Netizens are very familiar with him.  They also contributed substantially towards his campaign.  Had indelible ink been used on voters to prevent repeat voting and had the Elections Commission not have spare postal votes handy, Chegubard would have handily crushed Khairy.

            Equally telling was that I had difficulty assessing bothMalaysiakini and Malaysia-Today; their websites were swamped despite having multiple mirror sites.  Even when the authorities suspended Malaysiakini’s website, it could still be accessed via its mirror sites elsewhere.

            For another telling contrast, I had no problem at all downloading the mainstream media’s websites.  In my hunger for news however, I readily settled for second best!  This election is more than a repudiation of Abdullah Badawi.  It is also a repudiation of the mainstream media and their pundits and journalists.

            Doing away with Abdullah is much more doable task, not so with our incompetent sycophantic media.  UMNO members must not shy away from doing the necessarily dirty task at hand, getting rid of its leader Abdullah Badawi.  If they fail to do that, then Malays would not hesitate in getting rid of UMNO.

By M. Bakri Musa

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