Good news. Aliran Monthly is releasing its latest cover story online in time for the by-elections. The lead story puts the spotlight on Batang Ai.
Agi idup, agi ngelaban? Will the River burst the Dam?
Why don’t you subscribe to the magazine? Click here.
And here are a couple of stories I wrote:
A referendum on the Perak power grab
MIC’s future hangs in the balance
And this is a must-read on the distribution of ASB shares: Did you know…?
Ceramah only due to start at 9.30pm
2046: This afternoon, I checked out a Pas briefing session at Kampong Boyan aimed at activists who have volunteered. Among those represented there was the group opposing the teaching of Maths and Science in English. The language issue is likely to feature prominently in the Pas campaign.
At the same time, the party is also touting its “Pas for all” makeover aimed at making the party more acceptable to other groups in the spirit of “constructive engagement”.
1940: Just had dinner after earlier tucking into some cool Taiping cendol from a road-side stall, which advertises itself as “generasi ketiga” (third generation), so I’m pretty stuffed! Covering these by-elections is hard work…
Forgot to mention that the PKR MP told me the BN’s main issues in Bukit Gantang were about derhaka and Pakatan’s land titles to non-Malays.
According to him, Mahathir was expected to be in Bukit Gantang today, but the PKR MP said the Pakatan is not worried as his presence in town would actually help the alliance. It would be interesting to see how Mahathir reconciles the derhaka issue with his earlier constitutional amendment affecting the royalty. Moreover, the MP added, people still remember Mahathir’s divisive role in Umno during the party split in 1987. He said Mahathir’s influence in Umno is overestimated and reminded me that Muhkriz finished last among the three Umno Youth candidates vying for the top post.
It’s pouring cats and dogs now; I am not sure how it’s going to affect the ceramahs tonight featuring Nizar, Azmin Ali, Abdullah Sani and DAP politicians.
1828: As expected by campaigners in Bukit Selambau, where 30 per cent of voters are ethnic Indians, a couple of Hindaf detainees are among the 13 ISA detainees released ahead of the by-elections. And as predicted, Hindraf leader Uthayakumar isn’t among those released.
1813: The PKR MP I spoke to this morning predicts that PKR will win Batang Ai by 1,000 votes, and Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang both by 3,000-vote majorities. Much will depend on the turnout of the Chinese voters in Bukit Gantang.
I asked him whether he was aware of the nature of Anwar’s “Big Shock” announcement tonight.
“Yes,” replied. But he was not telling. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a big surprise, would it.
“Is it really going to be a kejutan besar (big shock)?” I asked.
“Yes, a big one,” he replied knowingly.
We shall see.
1741: Blog reader Karma reports:
The people here until now seem to favour Pakatan candidate more. Eight out of 10 people talked to wanted Nizar to win. Nizar is a very popular personality here. He is popular among all races. Not much has been mentioned about the BN candidate. Towering Nizar has overshadowed him.
The racial card played by some campaigners here did not favour many residents in this constituency. They felt its the same old story used only to get votes. A man in his 30s said, “Kita tetap miskin. Tengok apa yang dibuat mereka. Tengok mereka berkereta besar, berpakaian hebat. Tengok kami; tengok rumah kami; tengok anak-anak kami. Miskin dari dulu sampai sekarang.”
Najib in his maiden speech as PM tonight:
In this spirit, I would like to announce that the government has decided with immediate effect, to remove the temporary ban on TWO news publications, release 13 detainees from ISA detention, and conduct a comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act. Additional details will be announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs shortly.
Well, not quite a surprise.
On a gloomy, blustery evening in Penang, as a heavy downpour lashes the island, I dedicate this song to all of you who believe in justice, freedom, human rights and compassion. Let us stand by one another no matter what.
The Najib administration has not got off to a bright, democratic start.
Just 90 minutes after Najib was sworn in as the PM, KDN officers raided the firm that prints the PKR newspaper, Suara Keadilan, its editor Zunar told me.
So we have a new Prime Minister. That should be the main news story.
But I just spotted this interesting snippet from Suara Keadilan Online. PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution is quoted as saying that a surprise revelation, which will have a “big impact” on all three by-elections, will be made in Bukit Selambau tomorrow at 9.00pm. Anwar is due to make an appearance then.
I contacted a couple of PKR sources and they were in the dark as to the nature of the announcement. One of them said Anwar is playing his cards close to his chest. A more sceptical media source, however, told me they are used to all these “big announcements”, which then turn out to be something of an anti-climax.
Anyway, keep an eye out for tomorrow night. This report from Suara Keadilan Online:
Akan ada kejutan besar esok- Saifuddin
Friday, 3 April 2009 • Kategori: Berita Semasa, Berita Utama, Parlimen
Oleh: Rusnizam Mahat.
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 APRIL (SK) – PENGARAH Strategi keADIlan, Saifuddin Nasution berkata satu kejutan besar akan berlaku esok yang bakal menyaksikan impak besar kepada tiga pilihanraya kecil di Dun Bukit Selambau, parlimen Bukit Gantang dan Dun Batang Ai.
2350: Blog reader Karma reports:
On the ground it’s all out for PR. We see people of all races helping PR candidate win the election. This is history. Pas is giving undivided support to ensure victory for PR candidate. Malays, Chinese and Indians are carrying flags in support of Manikumar. Seemingly, all races are seen united for a common cause. When asked a Malay shopkeeper he said, “Kita tak kisah Melayu, India atau Cina. Kita mahu keadilan untuk semua. MB kami orang baik. Calon PR pun orang baik.”
Looks like the independents are not getting much support. An Indian professional quipped in Malay, “Kacau punya orang. Kita mahu satu orang saja. Ini Mani (Manikumar) baik punya orang. Kita mahu dia dalam kerajaan.”
Unfortunately, BN candidate is not getting much support. Out of 10 people interviewed, eight were not happy with him winning the by-election. Neither are BN component parties aggressively campaiging for him. In contrast, PKR supporters are seen all out to ensure a big win for its candidate.
1743: Is it just me or are you all also experiencing slow Internet downloading speeds?
1738: Among the independent candidates, insurance agency owner T Chandrarajan appears to be the most visible in the poster war. He was also featured in an NST “online exclusive” interview. While I was in town, I noticed quite a few of his campaign workers plastering his posters with the aeroplane logo all over the place. But my contact tells me it is R Loganathan who commands a sizeable following among the independents.
Making sure the message gets across in Batang Ai – Photos by a Sarawakian
Scene from Lubok Antu
In Batang Ai and Lubok Antu, oil palm plantations are mainly under Salcra (which is Sarawak’s equivalent to Felcra, except that its record is poorer).
For an analysis of the low dividends paid to the participants of Salcra’s oil palm land development schemes, go here.
2330: Greetings from Bukit Selambau! Reached here at 9.45pm via the Sungai Petani North exit of the North-South Highway. For the second night running, a police check-point had been set up immediately after the toll booth.
Arrived at a nasi kandar restaurant, only to see some activity outside, where a small crowd of curious onlookers had gathered. Turns out it was the former Jerai PKR chief, B Kalaivanar, giving a speech in the open-air just outside the restaurant.
Kalaivanar said he did not belong to the PKR nor the BN, but was an “NGO”. I didn’t quite catch what he was saying as he was about to leave but from what I understand, he seemed in favour of the BN now. Moments after he left with his small entourage, a silver police CID car arrived. Too late.