Congrats to the BN! It finally broke the Pakatan’s winning streak on the peninsula. There will be much rejoicing in the mainstream media about how the tide has turned.
But at what cost?
In its desperation to win in its own stronghold, Umno put up a popular local candidate whom its own party disciplinary board had found guilty of “money politics” (let’s call a spade a spade and refer to it as corruption). A candidate who perhaps best reflects the ethos of the party – at a time when the MCA itself is in utter disarray following the PKFZ debacle.
What message does this send out about “1Malaysia” and “1World”? We might as well disband the MACC…
Says an observer who was closely following the by-election campaign:
I feel sad for the nation. It has gone three steps backwards after leaping two steps into a new era of non-partisan politics and nation building.
The electoral process is back to ‘door gifts’ (who said money politics?), same old racial and religious platforms, the questionable postal votes system, new swimming pool, use of government machinery to win. Even TM and Tengku Razaleigh recognised the wrong choice of candidate and the message it would send out….
“But who cares … as long as we win.”
(Meanwhile) the MCA will be buried in the mud of PKFZ… (and Samy is finished too).
The Elections Commission appeared more interested in removing party paraphernelia and symbols on polling day instead of clamping down on the obvious abuses during the campaign period such as the promise to turn Port Dickson into an Army Town with all kinds of facilities. It seemed more interested in picking out the fly in the soup than chasing away the 600-pound gorilla in the kitchen.
OneMalaysia indeed.
Hello Anil,
According to Malaysiakini report, it says Bagan Pinang win is all due to the candidate & NOT the party. Do you agree with this?
If yes, isn’t it correct to say a tainted candidate is mightier than Pakatan Rakyat who constantly say they will fight for this & that for the rakyat?
I’m confused & if things go this way, ain’t it a better choice to have BN back as our Federal & State Govt?
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No, Confused. BN is already our Fed govt. We need to throw them out in the next GE (that’s General Election). And depending on which state you are in, you could already be in a PR (that’s Pakatan Rakyat) state, so you need to still vote PR in the next GE.
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Now that NAJIB had managed to convince & regain the trust of most Malay & Indian voters, the only task remaining is to focus on getting back the Chinese voters.
With MCA in major disarray, I believe NAJIB will come up with a plan to either revamp or replace MCA with a new party.
Pakatan Rakyat is indeed in DANGER!!!
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a blessing in disguise for Pakatan Rakyat..now they will have to work more harder as a team/coalition
in confronting an awaken BN…
to all the 10 DAP adun of NS….
this is a wake up call…
without the Malay vote DAP is nothing….next general election
NS DAP / West Malaysia will be totally wipe out unless they start approaching/engaging/respecting the Malays who are the majority in NS/Malaysia
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Please respect Bagan Pinang voters for making BN won. Their choice, they spoke out.
Its a simple town, they are not complicated in life style unlike some of us in big cities, they still eat, still drink water, same life goes on.
For PR,its time do reality self check.
DAP…start respecting other races and religions, even in Penang when Malays still 41% of the population.
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Anil, good job at Bagan Pinang live coverage yesterday.
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lets not be sour grapes.
we now know its ok to be corrupt and win big.
let it be. its up to PR to work harder to keep our votes.
if Hassan continues with his diatribe, just vote BN ok.
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The silent majority had spoken, why the hue and cry? Something must be seriously wrong with PR, that in such a short span of time, Malaysians of all races are ditching them like men with plagues. Anyway, there is no point for us, commoners, to ask the YB of PR to sit up and start performing. Remember, Malaysians cepat lupa, and in the next GE, PR will be wiped out. LGE? You gotta perform man, like a CM, not an opposition YB. Remember you are a CM,and you are the Government in Penang, forget about what the past Government had done. We know they had screwed the whole State up, that is why we voted the PR to power, but……….. what are your plans? What have you contributed to a better Penang?
I am not blaming you or PR for the loss in Bagan Pinang because it is a foregone conclusion that BN will win hands down from day one, as with the 5,000 army votes and the waning affection for PR, especially with the likes of hasan ally of BN and Zulkifli, the deputy chief of PAS Nasharuddin who cannot wait to want to join the BN to be a Minister. The thing is looking at Nasharuddin’s track record and political contributions, he will never get the support of the non-Malays. He had been running from one constituency to another with every election, with the protection of Hadi, in order to get a safe seat where he has a chance of winning to stay relevant in PAS. We need man like Husam Musa, men with conviction, with political will and not someone like Nasharuddin to lead PAS. Tok Guru’s stand is always firm and steady and is never a fickle. He is never tempted with promises of riches and positions, He never wavered and he deserves the support he gets from the rakyat. People are still talking about BN dissolving the State assembly in Perak. Najib will not dissolve it only in Perak, he will call for a snap election and wiped out all the Pakatan held states except Kelantan for good. Remember, it is October 2009, not 2008, the tide has changed, people are tired with all the infightings amongst the PR parties, and BN is quick to manipulate the situation with the MSM.
The question now is, do we have quality material within the PR to lead Malaysia solidly and regain the glory of Malaysia. Anyway, PR lost and lost real badly, they were trounced in every sense of the word, and PAS alone is not to be blamed besides that hasan ally of BN, Nasharuddin, and Bandar Baru. It is good that these guys are thrown out of their respective party. Whatever, if the party is reluctant to do it, the Rakyat must make sure that these people who creates instability in the PR Government must be removed at all costs. Never mind conceding a walkover to the BN if these goons contest, but make sure they are put to politcal pastures for good. So long folks, if there is a will there is a way, but, the PR leaders must sit up and perform instead of acting like opposition politicians when they are in Government. If you cannot be a statesmen, give way to those who can. One final word, if BN dissolves the Perak States Assembly, PR will still be the opposition. BN will win without doubt. Do not be overly optimistic that the PR can win Perak, they cannot at this point of time. Let us be realistic. Thank you folks.
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Dear Anil,
Congratulations to the RAKYAT of Bagan Pinang for making a firm decision!!!
They have chosen a ADUN who will be able to serve ALL the people of BP, including the oppositions!
ALL the 8 Districts and the Postal-voters, are in favour of the BN ADUN!!!
The Pembangkang Rakyat (PR) leaders and supporters are now calling the RAKYAT of Bagan Pinang as POOR, UNEDUCATED, ILLITERATE, IGNORANT, GULLIBLE, etc…!!!
This is a real INSULT to the people of BP and Malaysians in General!!!
It also shows that PR CANNOT accept DEMOCRACY in Malaysia when they talk so much about DEMOCRACY!!!
They are showing their TRUE Colours!!!
Bitter and Spiteful!!!
They are so PITIFUL!!!
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what do you mean by democracy. Every day during campaign period, All TV channels, All local newspapers only give coverage for BN propagandas. No voices given to PAS except for negative news. BN blatant abuse of govt machinery and public funds by openly campaigning for ISA during the so-called Hari Raya Open house. BN bribery at its peak…giving cash,saree, flour, swimming pool , futsal courts and loads of other goodies.
Fight on a level playing field, and I can bet you BN will … in their pants through out the campaign period.
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I must admit I am a solid supporter of the opposition since the days of Semangat 46, and needless to say, with the formation of the pact between the PKR, PAS and DAP, I finally thought, there is a chance for Malaysia with a two party system in place, but sad to say, I am but sad and dispirited with the constant bickerings amongst the PR parties. Honestly, I had never been happier than when I read from Anil’s blog that the PR was routed in Bagan Pinang. If you sow the seed of discontent, you harvest the fruits of discontent. This is never more true, with what the Rakyat had shown with the results in Bagan Pinang. hasan ali,zulkifli nordin, nasharuddin mat isa and to a certain extent, hadi awang, the latter, likes to play to the gallery, especially when he has a chance to be seen on tv.
After 18 months of honeymoon with the rakyat, the rakyat had finally said enough is enough, though the result of Bagan Pinang was a foregone conclusion even before nomination day. The routing PR received will have a strong bearing in future elections. It is not that the non-Malays had withdrawn their support for PR, the fact is the margin of defeat is definitely demoralizing. It will have significant impacts on future elections unless and until the PR sits up and the rakyat takes a decision to choose wisely candidates from PR. It is clear now that hasan ali, zulkifli nordin and nasharuddin mat isa cannot be (relied on). The only thing in nasharuddin’s mind (appears to be) to be a Minister, hasan ali (look like he) wants to be a chief minister and the zulkifli guy? Don’t know what he wants!
Folks, this is just the beginning, do not wait for 2013 for the next GE, it will be much sooner. Najib can sense the frustrations of the rakyat and will catch the PR YB’s by surprise by calling a snap GE. If that is done a couple of months from now, when there is still funds in the coffer, he will wipe out PR in all states except Kelantan.
What can we do when we voted in people who does not know how to exercise their powers for the rakyat when they have the chance to do so? We will continue to suffer, and will lag behind Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and in the not too distant future the Philippines. We will perhaps be lump together with Cambodia and Myanmar within ASEAN. This is something which we must accept.
Let us sit and watch what happen within the next 180 days? If we have State Government, currently in PR hands continuosly acting like opposition in an industrialised state, what can you expect? What has the “tak nak ISA” issue gotta do with Malaysians who are suffering so much with dwindling incomes and spending power? It is a waste of public funds and will backfire, as the rakyat wants to see results that will offer them a better living.
This move will backfire, though, we want to oppose, make sure at the same time, that the rakyat are taken care of. We do not want to oppose for the sake of opposing the Federal Government daily. Such cheap publicity will make the people desert PR. Bad strategy and those billboards are public funds. The CM can travel the whole year on Air Asia but the cost of putting up those anti ISA billboards will cost much more from what he can save from his trips by Air Asia! Come on, wake up, you are the Government, not opposition! Show us your leadership quality and perform. Not all these cheap publicity! There are better platforms for you to protest than to put up those useless billboards that serves no purposes! Another sign that the PR had gone bankrupt of ideas to stir the imaginations of the Rakyat.
Can they think of something more productive? Like attracting more FDI to Penang? Bringing in more tourists to Penang? Create Penang to be an educational hub, perhaps? They definitely can make Penang to be an educational hub and they will draw in huge revenues, but have they taken the initiative to do so? Make Penang a first class educational destination for all, not only from within Malaysia, but, beyond the national boundaries as well. They can if they put their heads and minds into it, but they would rather put up those silly billboards that benefits no one! Wake up, Penangnites are not so stupid, we oppose for a better Penang and Malaysia and not for the sake of opposing! Such silly billboards will make us desert you, PR. We oppose the BN government for their misdeeds and we do not wish to support the PR Government for their shortcomings to perform. Think hard for the sake of a successful PR in the future. Unless we see better performance, then 308 will just be a fluke shot, it will never be repeated for the next 50 years!
I apologise to fellow PR supporters for my not too supportive comments, but, to us laymen, after an election, and when a new Government is formed, work and serve the public, not all these cheap politickings that benefit no one and which we see no end. It makes us sick and sad, and make us wonder whether we had really chosen a correct Government. Anyway, we deserve the Government we elect!
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Another milestone on Malaysia’s journey to
a sub-Saharan Africa-type failed state.
So, BN regime wants to turn Malaysia into another Nigeria?
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Phua
BN had been running Malaysia for 52 years and we are no Nigeria or Zimbabwe. As such, your statement defies logic. Care to explain ?
As a supporter of civil society and democracy shouldn’t you be respecting the wishes of the people of BP instead of being yet another sour-grapes apologist ?
PR better of doing a post-mortem than going on a hyper-spin mode to offer excuses and run down the people of BP and BN’s victory.
If you stand for democracy, one needs to accept victory as well as defeat. Only cheerleaders of dictatorship would only want victories every time.
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Well ….Congrat to BN for winning the election. A Big majority shows that people reject a leader with a twisted toungue.Well after reading PR the liar Blogs…i found that they can’t accept the defeat.They are accusing the BN for thir defeat…
PR the Liar …your days are numbered and BN will take all the states in the next GE…
Well Done BN
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As Najib said, the people accepted 1Malaysia. I say the People of Bagan Pinang accepted your money,goodies and promised development projects. And I can safely equates 1Malaysia=bribery and corruption.
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For all the stupid in-fighting that PR chose to engage in and over-politiking that they like to engage in , PR deserved to lose. BN deserved to win for playing out a shrewd strategies that captures the hearts of the people of BP. However, we have to admit a corrupt people will have the type of government they deserved. We may not be like Zimbabwe which is an over-statement, we are neither anywhere near to Singapore, our closest neighbor, so don’t be so proud about our ‘achievements’, Mr. K.
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We wake up everyday, hoping to understand and to know what the PR State Government in Penang has in store for its folks, but instead what we got to read, are their opposition and confrontational stands.
Just when are they going to start governing and performing and start serving the Rakyat? Just when are you going to start working? It had been 18 months, just when are you going to start?
Remember in the next GE, the opposition today will come out with their guns blazing. You are the Government and the roles had been reversed! We voted you in to be the Government. Remember, the State Government of the state of Penang. Wake up, this is no joke, you really are the Government of Penang. So start working and performing. Personal charisma can only carry you so far, we do not want to live in confrontation every day with the Federal
Government! We do not wish to be reminded that we are an opposition held State. We want our daily lives to be uninterrupted with all the cheap political gimmicks and confrontational stand. The PR is in confrontation every day with the BN, but the people are all Malaysians! Understand this, well and clear!
Congratulations BN for a superb but expected victory in Bagan Pinang. To those non-Malays who had voted BN, syabas. You too are tired, right?
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Hi K
“BN had been running Malaysia for 52 years and we are no Nigeria or Zimbabwe. As such, your statement defies logic. Care to explain ?”
I actually said it is a “milestone” on the road to
a failed state. Another sign of the further degradation of our political system and institutions.
In your heart of hearts, putting political partisanship aside, do you honestly think that getting someone like this elected into high political office is good for the nation in the long run?
“As a supporter of civil society and democracy shouldn’t you be respecting the wishes of the people of BP instead of being yet another sour-grapes apologist ?”
?? Do you see or smell any sour grapes in my comment?
And what did I apologise for? If anything, PR deserves to be defeated for being unable to close ranks and practice Big Tent politics in this election.
“PR better of doing a post-mortem than going on a hyper-spin mode to offer excuses and run down the people of BP and BN’s victory.”
No, I did not run down the people of BP.
I am just shaking my head at how people (especially those poor and oppressed Indians from the ladangs)
can be manipulated into voting for those who keep them downtrodden and oppressed.
“If you stand for democracy, one needs to accept victory as well as defeat. Only cheerleaders of dictatorship would only want victories every time.”
I stand for genuine democracy, not the
pseudo democracy we have in Malaysia. But I am still willing to accept this defeat. In the next General Election, we should invite foreign observers and foreign poll-watchers, what do you think?
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This is a wake-up for PR that non-bumi supports to them is not automatic and unconditional choice.
DAP under LGE has failed Indian community in Kampung Buah Pala issue while PAS talibanization has put off many Chinese
On top of that PKR corrupt and no-principle politicians have casted doubt and no trust from the rakyats.
r
Votes in Bagan Pinang have answered call from DAP idiotic supporters that go vote BN if you people do not like DAP.
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So I see that PAS’s so called Sarawakian ignorant ‘cawat’ or loin cloth political mentality also exists in W Malaysia?
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PR, when you win, you never blame anything ie postal votes, briberies etc…but when you lose, you r such a sour grape…its good to lose once a while so you can reflect your weakness too else you too (PR) become arrogant…and Tian Chua, pls don’t belittle the poor rural areas by classifying us as bribe-ready! who are you to tell you…i used to support PR but if Tian Chua can put such a low remarks on the rural people, I am against it and my next vote in PRU13 will go to BN! Its all because of you Tian Chua dumb… and shallow minded!
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PR people like Tian Chuan is not a true politician, he was a street fighter minus political wise unlike Anwar Ibrahim.
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Dear Anil,
Apprently, there is NO DEMOCRACY in Malaysia!!!
Yet, there are so many Pembangkang Rakyat (PR) MPs in Parliament!
So far, the by-election score is PR 7 – BN 2!
It a wonder, where did DEMOCRACY come from?
PR think when they WIN, it’s DEMOCRACY. When LOST, NO DEMOCRACY!!!
People with this mentality are so SAD!!!
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Ok, folks, it is nice to hear the voices of so many of us, with all our assertions with the rout the PR suffered in Bagan Pinang.
Firstly, let us not be discouraged, but instead understand that Bagan Pinang is a BN fortress, but PR had faulted far too many times, PAS, DAP and PKR. Let us look forward to better times and fight as one. The status quo is still the same in Negri Sembilan. No actual loss for PR really, but such routing should not be allowed to occur because it demoralises and will continue to be discussed endlessly in coffee shops for many many weeks to come.
PAS must do something to stop their “big mouth” hasan ally of BN in Selangor. If PAS does not act on this guy, we the rakyat, are the masters, come election day and we will take it on our own to ensure the political demise of such politcian who despite fighting as a coalition, but upon learning that PR had captured Selangor, secretly went into discussions with BN to form a state Government with the hasan guy, aspiring CM the main culprit, in such a despicable act. Just imagine, just after the election, and upon securing the votes of the Rakyat, he had already wanted to stab PR in the back. It is no wonder he is (allegedly) out to create instability within the PR Government in Selangor. So, let us all be united, vote against him wherever he stands or abstain from going out to vote. This will put him out for good. No problem losing one seat to the BN but that is to ensure that such (alleged) turncoats do not make a comeback. Remember his name and remember well and remember the “duty” we need to do, when the time comes and it may be soon. Jangan cepat lupa, what this guy had done to us for his own personal benefits. Remember for the sake of our children, our grand children, childrens.
Bagan Pinang is no big deal, there is no way PR could win here what with 5,000 postal voters. To the PR, be informed, kindly do, that we the Rakyat are scrutinizing each and every move of yours. If you continue to bicker openly, and demoralize us, we will ensure the three main parties currently in PR will be wiped out in the next GE. Malaysians of all races, must contribute to a fund to sponsor good independents to take up the fight for us. I know it is easier said then done, but this is possible. Remember the live telecasts of World Cup football where the Rakyat pooled their resources to see those live broadcasts, twenty years back? Aha, this will make the PR understand that there will be no more straight fights for them if they continue to under perform.
Thank you folks.
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BN is too happy. Let it be. BN guy said PKR is Anwar and NO Anwar NO PKR. Whatever lah. Once we were BN great supporters BUT stopped in 1998. Insyaallah, we will go for PKR forever dengan izin ALLAH.
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