BN supporters feeling the heat (Photo credit: Abang Benet)
I was on the mainland yesterday and ran into a few people. From my conversations with them, it sounded like quite a few people were determined to teach the BN a lesson in the by-election.
The Christians are utterly disgusted with the “show cause” letter to The Herald. They are definitely not impressed. Many of them are urging their friends and family members to vote for the opposition.
Najib and Khairy’s presence – and Saiful’s via video – in Permatang Pauh could prove to be counterproductive, to put it politely.
I ran into a DAP grassroots worker and he said that they are going all out to ensure the BN candidate loses his deposit – and he seemed confident it was within reach! (That remains to be seen.) Rural Penanti and Permatang Pasir are in the Pakatan bag, he claimed. The only concern he had was with the low-rise low- and medium-cost flats in the ethnically mixed urban area of Seberang Jaya, which he said the BN could easily pinpoint for targeted campaigning.
A Malay petrol pump attendant in neighbouring Butterworth told me that there was a great need for check and balance at the national level. Among the local issues he cited were:
- the imposition of tolls on the Butterworth-Seberang Jaya stretch of the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE). Until recently, this stretch had been toll-free for years. “50 sen toll put dia orang mau,” he grumbled.
- the proposed Second Penang Bridge, which the attendant said was a waste of funds. (He doesn’t have a car.) He said it would only be used by those heading to the island from the south. He has a point, especially when you consider that the cross-channel ferry service has been allowed to deteriorate to a pathetic level. Long waits are the order of the day, and if you try to take a ferry after 9.00pm, good luck to you. Why they don’t increase the number of ferries when the Penang Bridge is so congested continues to baffle me. Actually, no, it doesn’t puzzle me; they just want to prove to Penangites that we desperately need another bridge – and a RM5 billion bridge at that. Big money-la.
- the higher cost of living.
One veteran KL-based journalist warned about the digital divide among rural voters who rely heavily on the mainstream media for their news. These older voters especially, he said, could be influenced by Saiful’s oath-taking and challenge to Anwar to swear by the Qur’an.
But Anwar has been campaigning at a blistering pace: three ceramah a night at different locations, walkabouts, and his presence at prayers in local mosques.
Meanwhile, the MCA, Gerakan and MIC are in disarray and probably demoralised. Will Samy dare to show his face in town, for instance? Where is Koh Tsu Koon?
But the most telling problem for the BN is its utter inability to reinvent itself and introduce meaningful reforms after its major setback in the March general election. They are still out of touch with reality or rather the people’s reality on the ground. And they find it so difficult to get off their high horse and get in touch with the people’s changed mood and desire for justice and people-centred development. That inability could cost them dearly when the result is announced on Tuesday night.
Blog visitor Karma left this comment:
Yes, i agree with you. i was there yesterday. BN is completely gone. The component parties are completely disheartened to campaign. They are not welcomed by the people. Najib and Khairy are not wanted either. Many UMNO members are fed up with Ariff, the candidate who claims to be pursuing his PhD, which he finally retracted yesterday. Umno and BN members are openly supporting Anwar. This surprised me. Personal attacks on Anwar have backfired terribly. The media onslaughts on Anwar have equally backfired. The people are fed up with all this. Umno has not learned much from the 8 March election. It’s the economic problems that they want to be resolved, not personal issues. They are not interested in personal issues. The people seems to be united to give anwar a big win. Ariff is utterly a wrong choice for Umno, poor guy. Khairy and Ezam are totally rejected by the people here. They just hate to see and hear them talking. Najib could not run away from all those shouts and boos against him. Umno has nothing left now in Permatang Pauh. Everything they do seems to go wrong….. IT IS GOING TO BE A LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR ANWAR.
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All for PKR on the landslide victory!Barisan bukan nasional,has disheartened the population with the ‘defective address on the economic woes,price fuel hikes to the brink of hopelessness. their measures has chided the maturity of the voters. GOD TO BLESS FOR ANWAR to win convincingly,hope again a bright future for Malaysia.
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Whatever, they should not rest this weekend. This could be the most important weekend in an entire generation in Malaysia.
MORE IMPORTANT THAN 1957!!!!!
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Kenny, you are right. The chinese and indians are with Anwar. Today’s betting 20k votes to Anwar, raise frm 15k after … kj showed up. I saw a group of malays turn away when the bn candidate wanted to shake their hands. Anwar should win big.
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Many think that DSAI will win handsomely if he take the same route as Saiful to swear On the QUARAN. First has anyone checked whether the QUARAN that Saiful swore on is real. It may just be the hard cover that looks good, the pages may just be blank paper.
Dsai is a man of Principle. He knows his religion well. To swear is an easy way out. Had he done that, BN will say see Dsai will do anything to win and show that the QURAN that Saiful swore on is a fake QURAN.
Dsai has not indulged in slander on anyone of BN. The only thing at worst he had done was to warn Najib to remember of Port Dickson.
What more do one expect of a man of PRINCIPLE? He has done the right thing by go to the Shariah court with his witnesses and given his affidavits. As a Muslim that is the proper approach.
To say that Malays of the older generation cannot think wisely is a grave INSULT. These are the Malays who has brought up their kids with very little handouts from the governments.
If there is no hanky panky during the coming elections I will dare say Dsai will WIN WIN WIN by a margin one would never expect.
God willing I hope I will be right for Malaysian sake.
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———————————————————-
Yeap Cheng Liang on August 22nd, 2008 at 6.57pm
Friends
I am pessimistic about Anwar’s chances in PP. I mean, I am all for AI to win the by-election, but the reality is, he is against BN’s powerful machinery and I sense that after GE 12, many penang people especially Chinese feel they have taught BN a lesson, so it is enough already.
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I think you are either out of touch or hiding somewhere. You figure of <1000 majority, receding tsunami, and supporting bn again is definitely out of touch. For a moment i tot u are a BN supporter trying to spoil PR’s mood but then i came to a conclusion u are just a person easily giving up and can’t feel much of what’s going on.
Can’t say much what’s coming this tuesday but definitely not what u predicted.
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The flip flop fella is a smart one.He is killing two birds with one arrow.
On one hand, he is trying to appease the voters with a price reduction,
BUT, on the other hand, he is giving out a big angpow to the tycoons.A 15 sen reduction in petrol to the ordinary joes is peanuts whereas it is big money to the corporates.
From what i see, everyone is saying the flip flop fella is a numbskull. Guess what, people, who’s the one who managed to pull a fast one on the mamak and 90% of bolehland in 2004?
Can you do that?
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There is a saying, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. So lets not be too over confident. The race is still on. Anwar has lots of answers need to be given. Arif continues to speak Hokkien and hopefully Khairy continues to speak s***. Then the victory for the people will be secured.
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You are right Spot On. My house is just few roads away from the Seberang Jaya Siakap BN Operations center. BN morale is truly down and most of their so-called workers are paid.
The final sign of desperation is raising the RM 100 to RM 200 for photocopy of Voter’s I/C. The MCA runner boys are going around last 2 days collecting them. I will be meeting an MCA & former Pg State EXCO boy today. Doesn’t know why should MCA gets into this mess at this time.
As for winning majority, based on my neigbourhood walk, my strech target for Anwar is about 18,500 majority. I will be doing my morning walk in Cherok Tok Kun hill on Sunday, able to get more grassroot feedbacks/
MCA Life Member – BAGAN DIVISION (ex Branch Chairman)
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Another Observation when I was in my friend’s house in Permatang Tinggi, about 3 km from Anwar’s kampung.
The local resident, especially the Malays are now firmly moving over to support him this time. I had seen numerous vans busy shuttling loads of their mak cik and pak chik as late as 11.30pm. I reckon the PAS now is working super hard on our Malay kampung folks.
What BN done today by reducing the price of Petrol makes thing worse. The words was that Pak Lah is just calling the shots on petrol price and had total disregard for the lower income and poor, manipulating it at his fancy.
As for the Chinese folks, esp the SJ market & hawker folks, they wanted to teach ARIFF a lesson for shouting at them when they approached him for help as their State Assemblyman last few months, and was scolded for having PR as the state government. Kak Azizah had already got them into her side when she send a team of plumbers to clear up the clogs and fix new taps.
AH PEK MCA LIFE MEMBER – BAGAN DIVISION
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We want DSAI to win and win convincingly
We hope all the voters in Permatang Pauh will agree with us
We hate to see BN getting any of their wishes
We need to do what is necessary to achieve these
Let’s go to Permatang Pauh!
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PERMATANG PAU ELECTION
The BN has done all sorts of dirty tactics – yet the Rakyat are unshaken in favour of Anwar. Actually the People (Rakyat) are united; it is the politicians who mess up things; Anyway they will be taught a lesson in the bye election
Where is demo-cracy in Malaysia. Nowhere it is to be found; you turnaround you see all tudongs everywhere – it reflects that we are one of the Arab countries.
It did not happen during Tengku’s time; between 1955 – 1975 everythng was peaceful – now the putras have become crazy and they are running wild. they should be stopped. I hope change will take place…
You see how the Indians were brought to Malaya by the White guys to toil in Malaya land to what it is today. But in a few years time 90 percent of the Indians will become beggars where they spilled – their forefathers – spilled blood blood blood – to bring Malaya to this stage.
We pray to Allah that the Muslims follow the true religion of Islam – (many of them) have now become addicted to wealth which they cannot take when they leave this DUNIA. We all depart this world only with white cloth – then why accumulate so much wealth.
Greed – which is against Islam.
Pray.
Ameen
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Which ever way, all Malaysian Brothers, whatever they are going to say now, even if they reduce the price of petrol to $1.50, abolish income tax, free education, open up UiTM and all that is hogging the lime light, I have this to tell you as I am not involved in this election nor was I in the past few …… ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Mr Khairy, you may sound very convincing and look like an angel with all your talks … having worked and known politicians from both sides, including PAS, DAP, I am amused and think you are really thick skin. Yes you can resign from UMNO Youth, who would not do it after all this maybe UMNO’s death. If UMNO is not buried this time, I am very sure they will be buried and all members buried alive in a landslide the next GE.
But Mr Khairy, does it matter to you, I have since labeled you as a VIP Begger and knowing in Sarawak, …
Let me know when you come, I am sure, I will pelt rotten eggs at you …
I wait for you and please be a gentlement and announce your visit to Kuching.
At the end of the day, I tell you and all Malaysians this:
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE AND MAYBE ALL TO GAIN BY THROWING OUT BARISAN NASIONAL STARTING WITH PERMATANG PAUH.
WE HAVE TRUSTED BN FOR 50 YEARS AND FOR MY CASE, EVER SINCE I STARTED WORK 30 YEARS AGO.
BUT, WE DO NOT SEEM TO MOVE FORWARD AND THIS MEANS WE HAVE GAMBLED AWAY THE BETTER PART OF OUR LIVE WITH BN. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE SEEM TO BE MOVING BACKWARDS AND WITH RECENT INFLATION, THIS IN ITSELF IS ALREADY THE INDICATOR THAT WE ARE NOT PROGRESSING WITH SHRINKING DOLLAR IN OUR POCKET AND QUALITY OF LIVE BEING AFFECTED AS WELL.
So fellow Malaysians, do not believe them any more, trust what I am telling you now, I rather gamble with a convict who have serve his time and realise and now know what is good than this bunch of Politicians in our government who are spoon fed or from poor backgrounds out to be a millionaire overnight at our expense.
VOTE DATUK SERI ANWAR NOW IS MY CALL AND THROW OUT BN. IF YOU ARE FROM PENANG, YOU WILL ALSO KNOW WHERE THE BN CANDICATE GOT HIS MONEY FROM. IF HE CAN TALK ABOUT HIS PHD FROM A BOGUS UNIVERSITY, AND RETRACT IT, THIS ALREADY SPEAKS VOLUMNE OF HIS INTERGRITY.
Ask any human resource lecturer or anyone involved in Human Resource Counselling or a person incharge of hiring and interviewing prospective employee, they are very sure a an important thing they are always on the look out would be “Past Behaviour”. This is very important as “Old Habits die hard, especially in telling white lies”
So with the recent lie dished out by Pek Mo in this by election, I am very sure he will lie and forever continue to lie (afterall, he have done it thinking we are all stupid and will do it again thinking we will not know).
I wish I can change my voting right to Permatang Pauh and give my one vote to Perkatan Rakyat and get my friends in Penang to do so, afterall, we have seen so many manipulations and billions of dollars flow in to cronies account in the past!!!
Once again, go for a gamble, vote Pakatan Rakyat and ask your family members, friends to do it …. even educated government servants in Sarawak are asking after the last price increase … “Do you still want or dare vote for Barisan”???
And with recent events affecting us … I am asking by friends and fellow Malaysian Brothers do you still want to vote for Barisan Nasional and suffer again.
GO FOR IT, DO IT FOR YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR FUTURE GENERATIONS PUT DATUK SERI ANWAR IN PARLIAMENT AND SEE WHAT HE DO FOR 5 YEARS, AFTERWALL WE HAVE SEEN AND SUFFERED FOR 50 YEARS. HOW MANY MALAYS HAVE LIVE ABOVE POVERTY LEVEL IN THIS 50 YEARS? 15% IS MY GUESS???
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I once met a PPC (Penang Port Commission) employee and asked him why the ferry service had deteriorated. He said it was ‘arahan’ from the top – they want more vehicles to use the bridge. People using ferry had to wait and wait so long. The reason is well known as we know who stands to gain from a profitable bridge toll! And the previous state govt under KTK was party to this; shame on him.
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I have seen quite a few police outriders plying the Batu Ferringhi Road these past few days and generally when that happens, it means there are VIPs in town. So are these UMNO/BN hypocrites staying in the 6 Star Rasa Sayang Resort and pretending to be campaigning in Permatang Pauh? If it is true, then are they are wasting the taxpayer’s money and misusing government facilities again?
Penangites are very angry with the BN right now, and I suppose the sentiment is the same nationwide. These fat cats haven’t learned their lesson and continue to live in their fantasy world of luxury without any concern for the rakyat’s well being.
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“”Doctor” Mahathir on August 22nd, 2008 at 4.56pm
I think AAB is secretly for us people.”
- so will he be one of the 30 to cross over?
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Ini PhD – means permanent head damaged. Semua boleh cetak punya – why waste time….do it the BeliNama way mah.
PhD tak PhD….buka mulut- ada pengetahuan tak, sudah tahu. by the way – PhD for which discipline??? Political Science kah International Law???
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