What an eventful day:
- Malaysia Today blocked – surely the government must be aware that it is futile to block sites in this day and age?
- Anwar to be sworned in, in Parliament tomorrow, and
- We have a new Parliamentary Opposition Leader
Meanwhile I had to get this article out for Asia Times on the implications of Anwar/PKR’s win:
PENANG – Opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim’s victory in a crucial by-election in the Permatang Pauh constituency in Penang on Tuesday has thrown wide open the political possibilities in the coming months. Standing under the banner of his People’s Justice Party (PKR), he cruised to a 15,671-vote majority on the back of an over 80% turnout among 58,000 voters on the electoral rolls. Read more
Related posts:
Dear Anil,
Permit me to reproduce an open letter written to the YB from Permatang Pauh which is somewhat related to 16 September.
Dear Yang Berhormat,
Let me start off by congratulating you on your magnificent victory in the by-election and also your return to parliament on Thursday as leader of the opposition benches.
I know its only been a day since the by-election and you deserve a rest but unfortunately YB, you’re no ordinary man. Since the rakyat placed so much trust and hope in you, we expect you to start working for us immediately, unfair as it may seem.
What we would like to know is what do you intend to do next, now that you are a member of parliament and leader of the opposition?
Will you now use the august house as a platform to further your stated intention of toppling the BN federal government by further politicking?
If you will permit me, may I remind you of what most Malaysians, who supported you recently hope that you will do instead.
YB, when the ordinary rakyat supported you, it was because we recognized that you are the ‘glue’ that is holding the Pakatan Rakyat together. And we wanted the PR to remain together so as to provide the other half of a 2-party system.
With great humility, we would like to suggest that top on your priority list should be to consolidate and strengthen the PR. Get DAP and PAS to really sit down and discuss to see if there can be common ground to work together all of the time rather than some of the time, with you as the mediator.
If you can achieve this then it is a step forward to a formal political coalition of parties known as the Pakatan Rakyat. In essence we are urging you to turn the present cooperation between PKR, DAP and PAS into a formal institution of a permanent political entity.
I hope you can appreciate our worries that since the existence of PR now largely hinge on you, we worry what will happen to the PR should you be unable to provide the ‘glue’ in the future. We would rest easier if we know that the PR can still continue to function, with or without you, to provide the check and balance to BN, a necessary component in a 2-party system.
Again with humility, may we suggest that YB, now as leader of the opposition, work towards forming a shadow cabinet. This is necessary because we the rakyat are not so interested in politicking along partisan lines per se, but would be more interested in issues that affect the nation and in turn us.
With a shadow cabinet, we will have the opportunity to see for ourselves what to expect if and when we put the PR in government. We appreciate that right now, the PR opposes whatever unfair and unjust policies of BN but in an ad hoc and individual manner. Wouldn’t it be more helpful to the watching rakyat if we can see your opposition in a cohesive and unified manner?
YB, please do not be so obsessed with the idea of attracting 30 BN MPs to crossover in order for you to topple the government before 16 September. Let me assure you that it will happen naturally if you work on achieving the above 2 suggestions from us.
Without taking away any of the enormity of your recent victory, there are still many of us who wonder if you are really for us or for yourself. Do not make the same mistake your BN opponents did when they underestimated the intelligence of the ordinary Malaysian.
Do the right thing that we are all crying out for and we will put you in Putrajaya one day soon enough. Engage in too much politicking for personal aims and we may reconsider our support.
In closing, I would like to humbly remind you that, we the ordinary rakyat, want a truly democratic Malaysia where each and everyone of us is treasured and allowed to do our part for the country we live in. Trust us that if this is allowed, our compassion for fellow Malaysians regardless of race or religion will not allow us to leave ANYONE behind in our quest to go forward as a nation.
Thank you for giving us hope again and may we wish you all the best for keeping alive our dreams.
Yours sincerely,
An ordinary Malaysian
http://romerz.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-now-yb-from-permatang-pauh.html
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[...] 16 September beckons… [...]
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Alternate way to MT
http://202.75.62.114/2008/
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The sooner the better.
We need the Central Government in order to further our vision and mission.
See how difficult it is for the five states under PR’s control to move forward. Every inch of our way is being laid with mines and barbed wires. Just take the case of free water for Selangor residents. Didn’t Syabas under instruction from the BN Federal Government come in the Selangor Government’s way?
Look at what is happening in Perak. Two of our men are being victimised with charges of corruption.
Next, hasn’t the DNA Act undergone its second reading in Parliament?
What is PR without Saudara Anwar Ibrahim?
Last but not least, study the trick employed by UMNO to get PAS to go to their side.
What about reforms? Where do we begin, from the Opposition or from the Government?
While what you wrote are important, a PR Central Government is as important, if not more important.
SALAM REFORMASI.
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WE in NZ have no problem with Malaysia Today.
What block???
Pete, keep ‘em coming.
Cheers
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BN government is following Chinese communist in blocking dissenting views from bloggers. The promise of no internet censorship is broken implies how desperate BN people now.
This country is hopeless and no future under the dictatorship of a bunch of … racists.
Let’s say sayonara to BN!
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Also alternate way to MToday..
..www.mt.harapanmalaysia.com
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Dear Anil
What do you think of this scenario?
1. Crossovers lead to the fall of the BN regime
2. PR forms new govt
3. After a few months, PR calls for a snap General Election
4. PR wins snap General Election by a super landslide
and silences all those who question its moral authority to rule
5. PR implements pro-people public policies
6. A 2-party (2-coalition actually) political system emerges in
Malaysia. This provides checks and balances and prevents a
return to the bad old days.
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“The return of the King”
The script will be written this way
Marching his soldiers right to Putrajaya
The throne is his……..so it is
The falling regime
Hurling cases after cases to derail his plan
Using the police and ACA to block his way
‘The return of the King”
Nobody can stop him then
He has learned his lessons well
In prison, got black eye
Yet when he is free
The falling regime wants to make him
Falling again on sodomy
There are many obstacles
One time closed friends got into the game
Spinning tales of decade ago
As if supporting the last drop of the falling regime
“The return of the King”
The date is set on September 16
On Malaysia Day a new leader begins
Marching his soldiers right to Putrajaya
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Can people continue to profess
What they want to fully confess
As their own solutions to progress
Without having deemed to transgress
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 280808
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Thu. 28th Aug. 2008.
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Dude, kinda tired hearing the word ‘opposition’. PKR is a legitimate party nominated into Parliament.
If you do intend to continue using the word opposition, I suggest branding the real opposition as an ultra-fascist right wing party.
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why the hell malaysia-today is blocked……its not fair….we have the rights to get information, true or fake we know how to judge…….come on bloggers…raise ur voice………
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down BN. Down UMNO!
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Some people might be playing Frank Sinatra’s My Way in loop mode nowadays. That timeless swan song of those in perpetual self denial.
Yes, it will be the final curtain for those who subjected us to that stupid song in the 80′s.
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I fully agree with the letter by Romerz.
In my own words, there are things Anwar has to do: (1) Find the middle ground of common values – and I propose distributive policy in my blog, not distributing wealth but ensuring that every family has the equal opporunity to acquire property through a system of meritocracy and social incentives. A housecleaning agenda is also part of the policy platform.
(2) To ensure that the rakyat is not voting for one leader but a viable alternative coalition, Anwar has to get DAP and PAS leaders and members to speak in the same methodology, or sound bites based on the middle ground.
(3) Engage in policy proposals that will build up the nation. The revamp of the NEP is a good long-term measure, but what about economic and monetary policies? House-cleaning is much easier than house-building and this is why the Opposition should not take for granted the support of the rakyat.
Read more at http://www.jeremiahliang.blogspot.com
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MALAYSIA TODAY HAS DIED
http://bangmalaysia.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/malaysia-today-has-died-now-the-son-wants-to-avenge-its-fathers-death/
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wah i agree with phua lar …
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Malaysia Today has a new web address:
http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com/2008/
Those overseas can still access MT at the normal address as the block only applies to Malaysia.
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Dear Anil,
I note that you had given an earlier comment of mine some prominence. And the comments that followed all seem to oppose my view. I wonder if you edit or just omit comments that may support a view contrary to yours?!!
I urge you to read the comment below and request that you give this comment equal prominence. I bet you will soon be receiving thousands of comments agreeing with my views expressed here.
…
KEPADA SAUDARA-SAUDARI BANGSA MELAYU SEKALIAN
Asalammualaikum semua,
Dengan rasa berat hati terpaksa saya nyatakan di sini mengenai kebenaran yang amat memedihkan berkenaan masa depan negara Malaysia kita tercinta. Kamu semua sedang dipermainkan oleh DSAI dan kuncu-kuncu beliau dan kamu diperalatkan oleh mereka untuk tujuan peribadi DSAI sahaja.
UMNO lah yang telah selama ini mendukung kita ke tahap kejayaan yang sedia ada. Kejayaan yang kita capai pada hari ini adalah melalui kesedaran awal UMNO bahawa mereka perlu membantu kita terutamanya bagi mencapai matlamat untuk membawa kita keluar dari kelompok-kelompok kampong dan berdiri sama tinggi serta duduk sama rendah dengan mereka-mereka yang bukan Melayu. Di manakah kita sebelum UMNO berkuasa? Kita adalah orang kampong yang rata-ratanya adalah pekebun-pekebun, peniaga-peniaga kecil sementara kaum hawa kita pula bekerja sebagai pembantu rumah kepada pendatang-pendatang luar ternama demi mencari sesuap nasi untuk meneruskan kehidupan. Ini semua adalah atas dasar belas kasihan orang-orang luar yang menjadi tuan di bumi kita sendiri. Angkatan muda hari ini merasakan bahawa setiap kejayaan serta kecemerlangan yang dinikmati mereka datang secara bergolek.
Ramai yang tidak menginsafi bahawa jika bukan kerana UMNO — kita masih merupakan orang-orang kampong — masih lagi menjadi hamba di tanahair sendiri. Kini setelah UMNO memberi kamu peluang bagi mendapatkan pelajaran (itupun melalui berbagai cara yang direncanakan agar kamu semua dapat melaluinya dengan cemerlang) serta memastikan kamu mendapat juwatan-jawatan tertinggi dan kehidupan yang mewah, kini kamu fikirkan bahawa kamu tidak lagi perlu kepada UMNO. Kamu mengerumuni blog-blog anti kerajaan (yang kebanyakannya dikelolakan oleh orang-orang luar) – lantas menganggap mereka-mereka sebagai penyelamat kepada kamu dan mereka-mereka inilah wira-wira kamu! Betapa … ceteknya pemikiran kamu!
Tibalah masa untuk kita menghadapi kenyataan bahawa betapa pahit sekalipun kenyataannya namun itulah kebenaran! Tidak seorangpun dari kamu sewajarnya berada di mana kamu berada sekarang. Sedarlah hakikat bahawa kamu berada di sana — atas usaha UMNO — kerana UMNO menjaga kepentingan kamu.
Kamu ingat sijil-sijil kedoktoran, ijazah tinggi dan segalanya telah kamu perolehi kerana kamu dilahirkan sebagai bijak pandai? Memegang jawatan-jawatan eksekutif korporat, ketua pengarah di jabatan perkhidmatan awam serta akademik adalah atas sebab-sebab kredibiliti kamu sendiri? Mengarut! UMNO – telah bangkit dengan beraninya menghalau keluar…. (yang memang lebih layak dari kamu) dan MENYERAHKAN SEGALA-GALANYA KEPADA KAMU DENGAN SEWENANG-WENANGNYA! Dan kini kamu hanya berpura-pura dan dengan anguhnya mengatakan bahawa KAMU telah mencapai kesemuanya atas dasar usaha dan keringat kamu sendiri.
DSAI mengatakan bahawa beliau akan berlaku adil kepada semua tanpa membezakan sebarang bangsa. Itulah tulang belakang utama kempen beliau. Dan kamu semua menyokongnya seperti semut dengan gula. Saya mahu setiap orang Melayu, tak kira lelaki atau perempuan agar bertaubatlah dan memohon perlindungan Tuhan sebelum menjawab dengan sejujur-jujurnya soalan-soalan berikut:-
1.) Adakah kamu fikir kamu telah samapai ke satu peringkat di mana kamu boleh menyaingi orang-orang luar yang ada di negara kita ini pada tahap kecekapan yang sama dengan mereka?
2.) Bolehkah kamu nyatakan secara jujurnya bahawa kamu boleh mengalahkan orang-orang luar ini tanpa sebarang bantuan? Adakah kamu mempunyai kemahiran, ilmu, tenaga, kecekalan atau perantaraan yang cukup untuk bersaing dengan dunia luar?
3.) Kita telah maklumi dan sedia akui bahawa dalam keadaan tanpa pertolongan dari mana-mana pihak dan berbagai kesukaran yang terpaksa dihadapi oleh mereka, namun orang luar di negara ini tetap berulang-ulang kali berjaya membuktikan bahawa mereka boleh melakukannya. Hingga ke hari ini, mereka adalah lebih baik dari kita dalam berbagai bidang seperti sukan, pelajaran, perniagaan, media, seni, hubungan antarabangsa malah dari pelbagai segi ekonomi dan akademik. Kebanyakan kamu tidak mampu untuk mengucapkan dua baris ayat tanpa sebarang kesalahan tatabahasa dalam bahasa paling penting dunia iaitu — Bahasa Inggeris – jadi bagaimanakah kamu fikir kamu boleh bersaing dengan orang-orang luar di dalam negera ini?
Jika kamu menjawab dengan seikhlas-ikhlasnya, 100% daripada kamu akan mengatakan “TIDAK” kepada 2 soalan yang terawal dan tidak akan mampu langsung untuk menjawab soalan yang ketiga itu. Mengapakah kamu fikir kita perlu kepada institusi-institusi seperti MARA dan UiTM? … Kamu hendak keadilan untuk semua? Ha! Setiap seorang daripada kamu akan tinggal di kolong-kolong jalan — tanpa sijil SPM pun di tangan kamu – meminta sedekah dan merayu kepada orang-orang luar agar memberi kamu kerja-kerja mudah bagi sesuap nasi buat kamu dan keluarga kamu.
Beginikah caranya kamu membalas jasa–jasa baik suatu organisasi yang telah dibangunkan oleh datuk-nenek kamu hanya semata-mata kerana misi membodek seorang peliwat yang akan mengadaikan maruah dan negara kamu! Amat memalukan!
Kamu semua diperbodohkan oleh proksi Amerika Syarikat yang ingin menjajah tanahair kamu dan gagal mempertahankan maruah bangsa Melayu. Maka tidak hairanlah jikalau seluruh dunia mengatakan kita …!
Sekiranya awak ingin menyokong mahupun mendesak saya kerana saya berani bersuara kebenaran, sila hubungi saya, Abdul Halim, di bnpartyman@gmail.com.
Salam sejahtera, wassalam.
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BN partyman! This is ridiculous! It is clear that even amongst our malay brothers and sisters it is only the UMNOputras (a small minority) that benefited from these ridiculous attempts to create a class of “rich” malays. And you think that our malay brothers and sisters should continue to support such a warped UMNO policy??
You guys are bankrupt of ideas! UMNO desperately needs to re-think its philosophy. Come to me. I can give you some great ideas about how to reinvent yourselves. It will cost you $$$$ big money though!
Makkal Sakthi!
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