No one home…
Last night, while I was in Seberang Jaya, I couldn’t help noticing a number of BN road-side ‘operations centres’ that were deserted. No one home. Mind you this was in BN candidate Ariff Shah’s stronghold, his Penang state assembly seat area.
Of course, there were a few BN booths that did have volunteers staffing them. But the number of BN stalls that lay empty suggests that the ruling coalition clearly over-estimated the response it would receive from volunteers.
The first three of these photos were taken near the site of an Anwar ceramah in a residential area (near Jalan Siakap 12), which saw a crowd of around a thousand turning up to listen. It was between 10.30pm and 11.00pm, when many people were on the streets checking out what was going on.
Where is everyone? At Anwar’s ceramah?
These booths have been turned into storage and garage space
The following two stalls stood directly opposite each other on the Seberang Jaya mainroad:
Another BN stall lies deserted…
… but directly across the road, PKR volunteers are beavering away
Blog reader Ah Pek BM, who says he is an MCA life member from Bagan in Butterworth, predicts a majority of 18,500:
You are right, spot on. My house is just a few roads away from the Seberang Jaya Siakap BN Operations centre. BN morale is truly down and most of their so-called workers are paid…
As for winning majority, based on my neigbourhood walk, my stretch 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 feedback.
I look forward to your feedback, Ah Pek!
Another blog reader Karma says sentiment among Umno members in Permatang Pauh is at a low ebb:
Prices of essential goods have increased by more than 15 per cent for the past 5 months. Low- income earners are feeling the pain more than the rich. The rich or poor, they all want a complete change to the management of the country now. This is the sentiment in Permatang Pauh now.
Tonight again we see thousands flocking to listen to PR ceramah. Unfortunately, ceramah conducted by BN could not attract much crowd yet. Each ceramah comprises less than about 100 people. Quite a disppointment for BN.
Speaking to the people here… they cited a few reasons why they are not happy with BN: the candidate (Ariff cannot be accepted by many disgruntled Umno members), media abuse, Saiful’s conduct, the price of commodities, high-handed approach of BN government towards PR-ruled states. At this point, Anwar is still able to win by a bigger majority. That is the scenario.
The local Umno and BN machinery is not functioning well. Many I spoke to are half-hearted to go all out to campaign. They have basically surrendered. Many Umno members are not happy with the BN candidate, Ariff, and Umno leaders.
MCA, MIC and Gerakan members feel that they just cannot convince the people to vote for BN anymore. To the Chinese, the Lim Guan Eng factor plays an important role. Most are happy with him. The Indians feel that they are neglected by Umno, quoting a few incidences such as poverty, religion, racial harassment and the Hindraf issue.
Thanks, Karma, do send more feedback from the ground.
A reporter from the mainstream Chinese press told me just now that he heard that the predictions of the PKR majority have been slashed to 5,000.
On the evidence of the above photos, I found that hard to believe. If the BN cannot even find volunteers to staff all their booths, how are they going to reduce the PKR majority of 13,000-plus? The only way the BN can achieve a lower margin of defeat is if voters are unable to turn up because Tuesday, polling day, is a working day.
A friend of mine said I shouldn’t raise expectations too high, because if the PKR’s majority is lower than expected, it would be a moral victory for the BN. What do you think?
The PAS volunteers have been doing the door-to-door visitations to counter BN’s onslaughts of slander and fabrications.
DSAI must get a big majority to signal to the ruling parties that people want change. If the majority is small, DSAI might not be able to get his needed cross-overs.
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Volunteers meant you gain nothing by helping/assisting others. It comes from the heart. Its done from our own believe and purpose in life. But BN all this while is using money employing ‘volunteer’. Its like a job. We may not like our job but we need the money. All these years, DAP been asking the public for donations. While BN has all the money making GLC to help support them in their campaign.
Inilah Malaysia. Mana ada volunteer sebenar untuk BN. Kalau pergi stadium dengar ceramah TDM pun mesti di bayar. Orang tengah dapat kumpul wang dari semua activiti yang dianjurkan BN. Makan minum percuma. Sampai sekarang pun BN masih tidak faham rakyat telah bosan dengan keadaan ini
Time to change.
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visit this video clip in detail
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Out-station PP voters, pl make your way home to vote PKR. Malaysia need you badly for the CHANGE !
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Mengapa Mesti Anwar?
1. Anwar pemimpin keluarganya. Sekiranya Anwar berperangai buruk, mana mungkin keluarganya dan anak2nya lebih terdidik, sopan, berwajah bersih, berterampilan baik berbanding pada anak2 kita sendiri.
2. Anwar satu2nya tokoh politik yang terus tegak berjuang walau disekat, ditindas, dihina, dimalukan, dipenjara, disingkir. Belum ada lagi tokoh sebegini dalam sejarah kita. Perjuangannya untuk rakyat, keadilan, kesejahteraan dan keharmonian semua kaum.
3. Sekiranya Anwar dilantik menjadi PM, maka beliaulah antara PM pertama yang dilantik oleh rakyat Malaysia. Bukan dilantik oleh UMNO-BN dan bukan juga atas penyerahan kuasa ala UMNO.
4. Rakyat yang melantik Anwar, maka andai kata Anwar tidak menepati janji dan wawasannya maka rakyat juga akan berhak menjatuhkannya.
5. Anwar lah pilihan rakyat.
Pengundi2 Permatang Pauh, setiap undi anda mewakili jutaan rakyat Malaysia.
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Dear Anil and blog readiers,
Many thanks for the PP updates
I bought the New Star and Straits Times yeaterday ( Saturday ), but just for the PP News. But I just could not find motivation to read it !!!!! And it is already approaching Sunday noon. There is just no trust that the reporting is representative on what is happening on the ground.
It is so sad isn’t it ………..
I am based in KL, people I met still feel short changed about the just revised fuel price cut. Wonder the feedback from the folks from PP.
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Out-Station PP voters, pl make your way home to vote PKR. Malaysia need you badly for the CHANGE! Your EVERY vote counts!
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Let me not put a damper on the all the above positive views. But I think we should not raise our hopes of an easy victory for DSAI. Knowing the dirty tricks that BN is capabale of, every one concerned should be vigilant and be prepared for worst. People of goodwill from all religious faith let us continually pray that Almighty God will grant wisdom to the voters choose wisely and for the authorities to be fair to the voters to exercise their inherent rights.
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A win for Anwar is a win for a New Malaysia and the whole nation is waiting for a change in Management lead by the Permatang Pauh MP…So no matter what kind of majority he gets, we hope this is the beginning of a New Malaysia.
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They are attending to the “pengundi hantu” (phamton voters). They are counting on them and this being the month of the Hungry Ghosts, and the ‘hantus’ are most willing to oblige provided they are fed !!!
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NOW SHOWING
… DANCING AT PP
STARING EZAM NALLAKARUPAN KHAIRT ….DEEN NAJIB SAIIFUL BADAWI
FREE TICKET LUNCH N DINNER ON THE HOUSE SPONSERED BY ….
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There is a vast difference between people who work for pay against people who work for their beliefs and rights. The people working for Anwar’s campaign have a lot more heart and zeal compared to the other side. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out who will win big!
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On 26th August, Justice shall prevail.
The road to Putra Jaya shall unfold for DSAI.A
And the circus and zoo entourage from BN shall be banished from PP.
We had enough! Long Live the ‘Rakyat’!
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I think its the replica of UMNO tactics at Permatang Pasir.
They do the same situation there.
They purposely abandon their post so that PR think that PR will win easily.
NO! NO! NO!
They are 100% believe door to door campaign is more effective.
Stand up all patriots… our fights should be more intense.
Humiliate them to the core of the earth.
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We know that Anwar would win this election, whether by big majority, does not matter. This is not a big issue. What is most important, Anwar need to be in parliment and thus lead our PR towards the new dawn for our beloved Malaysians Malaysia.
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No…..most of Anwar speech followers were people from outside Permatang pauh….i think 70% of them…..don’t be too confident….Permatang Pauh people are more to PAS sentiment….and most will not be going out to vote on 26th Aug 08….wait n see….they don’t trust both UMNO and PKR (becoz of DAP attitude)…
well we’ll see next 2 days when results is out…..Anwar will win but with simple majority…..
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I am a voter in PP. Being a prudent voter, I thought that it was only right that I assess the candidate at least with my own eyes before casting my vote. So, I drove up to Anwar’s campaign HQ near Kubang Semang this afternoon to take a look. I waited among some PKR supporters for him to emerge from his office. Anwar came out @ 3.30pm, walking slowly down the 3-steps pavement. Looked like he was having some pain and an aide quickly held his right hand and guided him to enter the waiting car. It was just so plain and unceremonious, unlike those BN ‘VIP’s who always has several “angkat bola” to open the way for them. Everyone there just surge near to Anwar and there was no security personnel chasing people away. Everything was so calm and casual. I was about 3m from him and I can see that this elderly man is just not strong enough to overpower a 23-y.o. man for sodomy. Now I am fully convinced that Saiful is such big liar. My vote will go to Anwar, and I shall tell what I saw today to all my family and my neighbours.
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I was there too and again meet him for late evening prayer……seems strong enough….donno if he’s play acting or really sick….May God Show us the Truth….(For that sodomy case that stupid boy shldn’t overpower Anwar as both of them (allegedly) agree for that dirty action)…everyone knows that…..even his counterpart at PAS but most of them keep mum on this…Dont know why….maybe Politics are Dirty…..the rakyat always suffer..everywhere in thsi world….
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A lesson from KL, to people of Permatang Pauh.
DISRUPTION!!!! by PDRM. Be weary of roadblocks.
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Latest Ground Zero Observations ;
Just back from 4 hours of visiting all the BN & PKR stations;
Its true that almost 95% of BN stations seems adandoned except the Trengganu UMNO center with their workers sitting, looking lost and exhausted.
PKR stations had definitely captured huge crowds especially the locals were grouping there, with video speeches playing. Very motivated PKR workers busy working under the rain and high spirited, morale is definitely boosted.
The Melaka PKR group of ladies and children were really enjoying themselves under the bus stand, waving and shouting along the roadside, a jovial group. I smiled and wave back at them.
The Traffic crawl along Tanah Liat to BM town was worse than the peak Bukit Bintang jam. My car can only move at 3 km per hr. Most surprising was that I keep seeing cars, trucks and vans with PKR, PAS & DAP flags but NOT any single BN vehicle.
I sensed something must be DEFINITELY WRONG here in Permatang Pauh, just can’t figure out what happened to the BN workers. Is it about Najib’s Hindu rituals?
My estimate is that a significant portion of Malay voters were strongly influenced by PAS onslaught last few nites.
There is a free dinner by the MCA BM group at about 7pm in a chinese association but there isn’t any crowd.
MCA LIFE MEMBER – BAGAN DIVISION
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Call to scrap mega projects
PENANG: The state Umno will “persuade” the Federal Government to scrap all the mega projects in the state in view of the people’s clear rejection of Barisan Nasional.
Since Penangites do not want development, the Federal Government should not force it on them, said state Umno liaison committee secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim.
He said that this was not Penang Umno taking revenge “but we are actually giving the people what they want”.
Struggle continues: Azhar (third from left), Abdul Rashid (left) and other Penang Umno leaders showing their fighting spirit after the emergency meeting on Thursday. — Bernama
“They voted for change, so let us see what the DAP can do,” he said after the party’s emergency meeting at Menara Umno yesterday.
Azhar, who is Penaga assemblyman, was appointed the state Opposition Leader at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Umno liaison committee deputy chief Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah hit out at the new administration for its decision not to practise the New Economic Policy (NEP).
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/14/nation/20641797&sec=nation
UMNO = Anti-Rakyat
Votes in Permatang Pauh:
Please don’t vote for UMNO!!
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Thanks Megat Nasarudin Megat Ayob for highlighting the Indian problems in Malaysia, they have been outcast, marginalised for the past 50 years. Its a nice Malaysian gesture. It may look like indians are doing well as painted by the professional group; i.e Doc and lawyers yet the majority are still struggling to make a decent living. That also applies to the Malays and Chinese.
We need a strong government that would address poverty issues among the rakyat imaterial of race! Give opportunities to those who are qualified to run the ministry and the government department not based on race.It should be Qualikication and not kulification only than we can build a strong nation!
If we want to make a difference lets start with Permatang Pauh.You know what to do!
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BN certainly are doing house-to-house campaigning, but the lack of activity at the Bilik Gerakan speaks volumes.
For those who may be interested in the mechanics of organising for house-to-house campaigning.
The Bilik Gerakan is an essential nerve centre. Large areas are divided into neighbourhoods which different teams are assigned to cover. The ethnic mix, economic status, past voting history etc of each neighbourhood is taken into account, and the appropriate pitch strategy is employed. After each team completes its task, they report back to the Bilik Gerakan for feedback And they get their allowances, meals etc. of course.
So, if the Bilik Gerakan is deserted – either they have successfully completed their objective, or there isn’t much happening in the area. You make your own conclusions…
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but here i would like to highlight that any how must alert n be careful ,those around the crowd might have UM people pretending support but in direct way they would arise some problem, so watch out for those ppl n catch them , look around n see who are suspicious then watch out of them,cos this kind of tactic Taiwan former pm had been used b4 to black listed … ok,,
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my fren told me things one thing,
tomm gonna be a havoc day in PP, and voters list might not be correct as per what happend during 2004. voters will be frustrated and turnout gonna be low at 48%. They gonna claim the poor attendance due to rowdy character of PKR supporters, wherelse they r not from PKR neither PR.
So its gonna be a victory for arif by very slim majority, thats what I heard and hope it is not true, so lets all out go and tell our frenz and family memebers to make sure to vote. A single vote might cause the whole goverment to change. Accept what eva u get, but pliz vote Datuk Seri.
one time and do it the right way…
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