Nizar and Perak Speaker Sivakumar anxiously await the results last night
What an incredible last few days it has been. And thank you to all the “citizen journalists”, political activists and even mainstream media folks who fed me information, including complete strangers such as the young man who passed me the video he took of the teargas incident in Air Kuning. Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement, which kept me motivated.
I left Perak this afternoon after lunch at a kopitiam restaurant in Taiping with much to think about (and I don’t mean just the cendol).
Bukit Gantang ushers in a new phase in Malaysian politics. Ethnic and religious barriers were broken here as the Chinese and others voted in droves for Pas. Much of it was due to the more moderate face of Pas projected by its popular candidate, Nizar, and the party’s makeover “Pas for all”. The close cooperation among Pakatan parties, and more importantly, the interaction of ordinary people on the ground also contributed to the breakthrough.
In staging its power grab in Perak, Umno may have committed its biggest blunder. By ousting Nizar, it allowed him to be chosen as a candidate for a parliamentary seat, thus propelling him to a bigger stage – Parliament, where he will now be a regular face in front of a national audience.
His overwhelming acceptance among minority groups is something that Umno leaders cannot match – unless they dump their divisive brand of racial politics.
Here’s an article I wrote in Perak this morning for Asia Times, just before returning to Penang:
Malaysia’s Najib fails his first test
By Anil Netto
BUKIT GANTANG, Perak – Malaysia’s ruling coalition lost two of three by-elections held on Tuesday, in a result that shows that the change in prime minister from Abdullah Badawi to Najib Razak only four days prior has done little to stem the erosion in popular support for government led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO).
Many viewed the three local polls as an early referendum on the new premier, who took over after the UMNO-led ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition suffered a setback at general elections held in March last year. The BN lost five states to the People’s Alliance opposition, made up of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS), the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and the People’s Justice Party (PKR), led by Anwar Ibrahim.
Full article here.
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I cant see where the hell was BN’s so called dirty tactic i.e threaten them to go INDEPENDENT or asked Sultan not to give permission to dissolve DUN….drMpower
Wuahahaha…there are still unriped , naive & easily clouded guy around. Go seek Optometrist Consultant then comment. Too lenghthy to explain to u particulary on the 3 disrespectful & selfish froggies. Pity..Hee, no party wants her. Pray for the 2 ex-pkr got pardon by the court for thier corruption..then will they be able to join uMNO.
Again…pAS should win much bigger majority if not of thier dirty tactic… Having road block at PAS stroonghold is lame man..
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Congrats to the new politics of inclusiveness than the fear mongering of UMNO.
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drMpower
I believe this article will answer your queries: http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinions/101935
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YES we won, of course we did – Perakians WON and we made known our anger and disgust at the way things are – We demand HAK rakyat be returned, and it showed in the ballot box and we did, didn’t we?
The recent Perak political crisis/impasse occur(still on-going, still unsettled!) because the State of Perak was under Pakatan Rakyat Government, and who allowed it to happen?
Haven’t we also notice that suddenly UMNO display themselves as respectful loyal citizens of King and Sultans, eh?
Despite the unpredictable weather in Bukit Gantang, support for PAS and DAP ceramahs was overwhelmingly popular – rain or shine in most unwelcoming soggy ‘tapaks’ in the kampongs in Changkat Jering and even in the middle of nowhere located in some kampongs reachable via narrow winding palm oil estates roads – Matang Gelugor where enthusiastic supporters and observers were adamant to hear out their favourite politicians speak. The came by tens of thousands – they analyse and they decide. Donation boxes were passed around and people readily and willingly stepped forward with the little they could afford in some small way to help ease PR electricity bills and to also feed their hardworking ground members/workers appreciative of their dedication.
At all PR(PAS, DAP & PKR) ceramahs, there were NO GOODIES to pass around, no lucky draws, no sewing machines, no hampers in sight or any FOC motor-bike service for rempits as in BN so-ceramahs!
Despite all those, and the fact that the whole UMNO/BN machinery was up against Nizar at Bukit Gantang, BN’s Ismail Saffian lost to Nizar Jamaluddin by 2789 votes! You can say UMNO/BN had been rejected outright. You can say even as early as Nomination Day 29 Mar09, UMNO/BN had been rejected outright, no “ifs” not “buts”. We thought their BN candidate Ismail Saffian was about to lose his deposit. Guess those “goodies” saved them the embarrassment!
Seeing is believing! Pakatan Rakyat/PAS managed to attract supporters and observers from all over the country not only from Perak alone! One needs to mingle with the crowds, reach out and strike conversation with the locals to be able to feel the pulse of the rakyat.
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Thanks Anil for some brave reportage….someday you will definitely be given mention for your painstaking and honest to goodness journalism…..you are doing so well. Bravo.
Thanks also to good old Democracy Tree for so bravely weathering the storms and saving the two Bukits from the vultures and eroders of our multi-ethnic landscape. Stand tall and blow in the fresh breezes.
And hero Nizar…a man for all of Malaysia….is cetainly our most unforgetable character.
And you Anil, have a joyful Easter week-end. God bless you! for your kind of enlightenment.
Thanks, Happy Easter to you and all readers too! Anil
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