Anwar enters the hall in Kulim to a hero’s welcome
- Anwar publicly announces he will contest in Kulim “barring obstacles”
- 8,000-strong multi-ethnic crowd greets his announcement with thunderous applause
- Hadi assures Anwar of Kedah Pas’ full backing
- DAP to assist in campaign as well
Anwar Ibrahim was given a hero’s reception in Kulim, Kedah during an emotional night when he announced that he would contest a by-election here barring obstacles. In doing so, he has raised the stakes considerably.
A barely visible Anwar dressed in black long-sleeves with hand outstretched (towards the right, below) wades through the crowd
He was mobbed as he entered the hall, led by lion dancers prancing ahead. Hundreds lined his path with outstretched hands either holding cameras up high or trying to reach out to Anwar. Even from a vantage point above the crowd, I was barely able to see him as PKR escorts struggled to guide him to the stage.
About three-quarters of the crowd were Malay with a sizeable number of ethnic Chinese and a visible Indian presence, reflecting Kulim’s ethnic composition.
And then, he declared: “Barring obstacles, I can announce that I will contest in Kulim, inshallah.” The crowd erupted.
Anwar shrugged off recent news of Pas-Umno talks. He told the crowd that he and Hadi had been in close communication and he had spoken to the Pas president over the telephone earlier on Sunday. “Hadi assured me that Azizan would fully mobilise the Kedah Pas machinery behind me in the event of a Kulim by-election.”
He said that the DAP had also indicated its readiness to assist if a by-election is held in Kulim, which lies in Kedah, just across the border from Penang. The town is just 15 minutes’ drive from Anwar’s home base of Permatang Pauh on mainland Penang.
Anwar indicated that the incumbent Zulkifli was ready to give way to him.
A couple of PKR town councillors from Kedah later told me that “it was 80 per cent certain” that Anwar would contest in Kulim – though a lot would also depend on the outcome of the court case involving Zulkifli.
Anwar also disclosed a couple of interesting nuggets.
He said that the surgeon in Munich, Thomas Hoogland, who performed surgery on his back refused to accept payment. “Imagine, he, a Christian doctor, was willing to forego payment because he recognised my struggle for justice on behalf of the Malaysian people and knew what I had been through,” said Anwar, as the majority-Muslim crowd broke out in appreciative applause.
A section of the multi-racial crowd in Kulim listening intently to Anwar
Anwar also described in some detail the recent medical examination he underwent at the KL Hospital after he was asked to take off his clothes. “They examined me front and back. They even took out a ruler to measure me!”
“I was even asked to fill out a form meant for rape victims,” he lamented.
“If they think they can shame me and deter me from the struggle this way, let me say, I–WILL–NEVER– SURRENDER,” he thundered.
He also recalled his oil price debate with Shabery Cheek. “He started talking about Iran and Venezuela and began foaming at the mouth,” said Anwar, as the crowd hooted, knowingly.
He recounted how a kakak later asked him why he had to “win” the debate: “Couldn’t you have just conceded defeat?”
Puzzled, he asked her why she said that.
“Then they wouldn’t have treated you that way,” she said, referring to his dramatic arrest and ordeal the following day, as the crowd laughed.
He said that if he had agreed to all the damaging policies the BN leaders had proposed for the country, he would have been “Tun Anwar” by now.
Claiming that RM10 billion was being lost annually through corruption, Anwar reiterated that he could immediately reduce the oil price by 50 sen if Pakatan Rakyat took over the reins.
His proposal looks even more feasible now – at least as a temporary measure. The global price has plunged from around US$146 per barrel a couple of weeks ago to US$123 now as speculation appears to be losing momentum following fears of a global economic slowdown.
Revealing his ideological mindset, Anwar referred to an ekonomi pasaran (market economy) that would transform the Malaysian economy into one of the giants of this region.
But he added that the existing order was worried about the Pakatan’s plan to uplift the downtrodden, put an end to corruption and bring the various races together after 50 years of divide-and-rule.
Good news,brudder!!!!!!!!!
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Contesting for a vacant Kulim seat is more morally just, as it doesn’t involve a sitting MP deliberately making way. But I’m afraid it may not be strategically sound for Anwar. It may be a lot tougher to win in a Malay-majority constituency than a mixed constituency as many Malays are still on BN’s side. The recent shenanigans that PAS are getting into won’t help either. Bandar Tun Razak looks like as safer choice on paper, being a mixed constituency, but Khalid has to vacate his seat and Anwar may be smeared for “forcing out” his colleague.
The campaigning in Kulim has to be pitch-perfect for Anwar to make his return to parliament.
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Day by day, it becomes harder and harder not to feel that there is a gigantic and very evil plot being played out to put Anwar out of action politically. There are just too many inconsistencies and illogical steps being taken. What they don’t realise that the more they plot and plan, the more they make Anwar look like the Nelson Mandela of Malaysia. Well, if the aim is to make him more appealing to the Malaysian people, then they have succeeded. I and my family were dead against Anwar in the past, but now we are beginning to feel that we want him to succeed and become the next PM of Malaysia. We are so sick to the gut of the current government.
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Hidup Anwar Ibrahim…..the Truth & the majority of Citizens are with you !
The Government should be afaid of the people and not the other way round.
Do we want to leave our children a Society where (certain of) the Rich & Powerful can …get away with murder?
A Society where the Police & Judiciary (may be) used by those in power to assist in defaming your loved ones & innocent victims ?
Hidup Keadilan ! Hidup Pakatan Rakyat !
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DSAI is unstoppable at the moment or shall we agree BN/UMNO is impotent now, they can’t even rile auntie Sai-fool. Don’t underestimate Malayu we are as fed-up as any section of our society. As a mater of fact keta tak pakai uniform and we know postal votes can’t Rimbau its margins to victory even if IGP and Hippo tally the votes.
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All loving Malaysians are outraged how the UMNOputras has successfully
diminished the powers of the legislative and judiciary branches of the Government! It is totally unacceptable and must not continue! DSAI must win the by-election to stop this travesty from Umnoputras and BN Government!TOTAL SUPPORT FOR ANWAR-THE BEACON OF HOPE FOR ALL MALAYSIANS!
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Anwar can “I’LL NEVER Surrender” how about Zulkifli Nordin?
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1. Anwar commit Sodomy? He can’t because you have to ask the wife.
2. Najib really did not know Altantuya cos he is also not a sodomizer. He likes it straight….
3. It’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so said by every accused in any court of any land. Do you not believe in men when they swear in the name of God, Allah, Yahweh etc?
More facts at http://patek1472.wordpress.com
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[...] Updated 9.58 am – Anwar To Contest in Kulim HERE [...]
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There will be a shortage of adult diapers and one way tickets abroad quite soon.
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Umno m******s said, “If you don’t try, you will never know” Bad luck this time, you will be “sodomized” by the voters in Kulim. Anwar, better request the ACA be around, money politics which the BN is most famous for will undoubtedly, be in full action!
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Yes we are sick to the guts of the current govt. Thanks to a useless and incompetent PM and a DPM so tainted my table cloth smells a lot better.
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What we want and need now is positive actions from Anwar. This sandiwara has been going on for too long. Let the battle begin.
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Kulim used to be UMNO/BN stronghold up to 2004. Not anymore now when they put that ***** Aziz Sheikh Fadzir to contest as candidate in 2008. For his threats to burn down Suqiu h/q in 2001, Chinese shopkeepers all over town refused to see him and shut their doors in his face. When Aziz contested in DUN Kuala Ketil, he nearly lost because the Chinese and also Indians boycotted him. Malu tersangat!
Anwar will just win hands down in Kulim Bandar Bahru. But Anwar must beware of all the money (taxpayer’s money anyway) which UMNO will flood the constituency. (They may even be) prepared to even give $$$ to each voter to vote for Aziz. What voters must do is to take the money, plus free food, transport to voting centres come polling day in by-election. THEN VOTE FOR ANWAR AND PKRM, PR…and teach UMNO a lesson which they will never forget. KULIM BANDAR BAHRU WELCOMES DATUK ANWAR IBRAHIM AS THE NEXT MP..Hidup Anwar, Hidup Wan Azizah, hidup Pakatan Rakyat…(down with) UMNO, Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, Kadir Sheik Fadzir, Mahathir, mukhriz dan semua tokoh2 UMNO Kedah, Kulim…semua nya … yang bercakap tak masuk akal…..
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Andrew, reason is probably you are hoarding them! ha ha !
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I am not Anwar supporter but lets its be.
Give a try for Anwar no harm done.
Keeping supporting UMNO/Barisan – Disaster for the Nation/Malaysian.
rajraman.100plus days interested in Politics of nonstarter Politician due to UMNO/Barisan and the people.
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HIDUP ANWAR ! HIDUP PAKATAN RAKYAT !
I can smell the PutraJaya !
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Anwar will win big against Aziz Sheik Fadzil in Bandar Baru Kulim as he is (seen) to be (allegedly) a racist… DSAI is assured of 19% Chinese Votes!
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In a way it’s rude for Anwar to make that announcement before the court even done with Zulkifli’s case.
His act of announcing the news to the whole congregation was purely political motivated with zero sympathy to his fellow politician.
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YES! Anwar will get FULL SUPPORT. That little boy Ezam also says he wants to challenge Anwar. He will break Anwar’s secret which he claims he kept. Its OK ezam. You can say it. UMNO’s/BN damage is done. Whether Anwar is corrupt, cheats, bla, bla, bla… BN is worst! You tell us who is not corrupt when being at the top… Go ahead, be a hero. But if you loose, haha.. YOU ARE GONE brother! You can say goodbye to politics …
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Nice report.
Indeed, why not Anwar?
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Pengumuman Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim menarik perhatian. Namun berbagai masalah sedang ‘diwujudkan’ bagi menangkis kemaraan beliau ke Parlimen. Salah satu ialah Kes Liwat. Kedua isu muzakarah antara UMNO dan PAS. Hairan sekali walaupun PAS pernah di’tendang’ oleh UMNO namun masih tak sedar dengan taktik UMNO. Sebelum pilihanraya cuba timbul muzakarah dengan UMNO ? Kita rakyat Malaysia kena berdiri di bumi nyata. UMNO ingin muzakarah dengan PAS sekarang pun ada sebabnya iaitu bagi menyelamatkan parti tersebut. Kenapa kepimpinan PAS tidak nampak perkara ini ? Kalau dengan situasi sekarang macam PAS pun sudah mula mengikut jejak UMNO … Jawatan, Wang, Kedudukan yang nyata sudah berlawan dengan prinsip yang didokong selama ini. Pastinya di peringkat akar umbi orang sudah tidak percaya kepada PAS lagi. Dari dulu lagi orang tak percaya kat PAS tetapi sekarang sudah dibuktikan bahawa PAS tidak boleh dipercayai terus.Golongan ini menggunakan pelbagai alasan untuk menipu rakyat… demi orang Melayu la… demi perpaduan umat Islam la.. Selama ini adakah kedua elemen ini pernah diancam oleh mana-mana pihak ? Dewasa ini orang yang ‘muak’ dengan perkembangan yang berlaku.
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AhSeng,
You have lost the plot. It was decided very early by the entire PKR leadership that Kulim was the best. It was not decided yesterday and Anwar was not the one who simply settled on that seat. Secondly, Zulkipli can’t stand again in the same seat if he is disqualified by the court, that’s why Anwar said he will contest “barring obstacles…” (I.e if Zulkipli retains the seat-the court dismisses Aziz’s case or if his sodomy conpiracy is prolonged by the nefarious AMENO gang). Otherwise, he is not robbing anyone and rest assured that Zulkipli who is an Anwar loyalist will find himself in the cabinet through senatorship.
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We hope that PAS leadership is sincere in this latest pursuit of DSAI to be an important member of parliment again.Kedah govt. is a PAKATAN govt. but led by PAS.They have promised full support for Anwar but..an element of doubt or double-crossing is there?
If Anwar looses,people will loose their trust in PAS as a political party because they are the hosting state.That will mean PAS has lied to their partners again.They would have lied to the rakyat.
What can PAS leadership do this time for us to regain our trust in them? How come Ezam could bravely challenge Anwar there,unless there is an evil plan by Umno and PAS to stop Anwar to take over of government by Sept. 16. Anwar has to be extra careful and wary f the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
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Syabas DSAI ….. now that there is evident Medical Report and being the first report and not the 2nd report from another government related party …. I think PR (minus the … backstabbing PAS) can win this election and the next general election and form the next government …. very looknig forward to it.
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