LIVE from Bkt Selambau: FRU disperses crowd again
My contact in Bukit Selambau reports:
0026: Three PKR supporters are believed to have been detained for not dispersing, though I am unable to confirm this.
2355: Police have given a final warning for the crowd to disperse. My contact is concerned that there could be arrests.
2350: In Jalan Cinta Sayang, the FRU are asking the crowd to disperse, but some are jeering and not moving.
2340: Over at Bandar Baru in Bukit Selambau, Anwar has addressed a crowd of around 5,000 as the eve of polling draws to a close.
In Simpang in Bukit Gantang, a crowd of 5,000 has just listened to Husam Musa and other NGO activists talking about whether Umno is really the defender of Malays and whether Pas is a puppet of the DAP.
Batang Ai: BN does not practise discrimination?
The BN claims it does not practise discrimination in dishing out projects. Oh yeah? Read these news snippets and form your own conclusions.
BN does not practise discrimination: Masing
Borneo Post, April 1, 2009
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing said the Barisan Nasional (BN) does not practise ‘pilih kasih’ (favouritism) when it comes to disbursing funds for projects or allocating projects.
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49590
NCR land devt aimed at helping owners
Borneo Post, April 3, 2009
…On the by-election, Gramong said it was very important for the voters to make the right choice. He said the BN government, since 1963, had been faithfully dishing out development projects like schools, health centres, hospitals, roads, water and power supplies not only to towns but also rural areas. He said a lot could be achieved if they voted for the BN.
“Vote the opposition and you will be in the political wilderness. Your representative will be sitting with the other opposition members, shouting to have their voices heard. They will be blaming and criticising others for their own shortcomings and failures,” he said.
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49666
Batang Ai: More Santa ‘instant noodles’ projects
The abuse of government resources continues unabated ahead of the Batang Ai by-election in Sarawak
Pilot project in Sarawak
The Star, April 6, 2009
A children’s activity centre will be set up at a longhouse here under a pilot project to provide early education for rural children….Sixty-two people were given assistance totalling RM15,475, including 33 senior citizens, one disabled person and 21 who received aid for their children….the 36-door longhouse needed repairs and requested an allocation from the Government….In response, Dr Ng pledged to raise the RM40,000 needed.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/6/nation/3638062&sec=nation
Syed Hamid was speaking to reporters after presenting birth certificates to 38 recipients from the Lubok Antu district at Rumah Johnson, Kaong Ili, here yesterday. The oldest recipient was 55 years old, while the youngest was nine.
Batang Ai: BN holds the edge
Dalbinder reports that things are looking bleak for PKR in Batang Ai, Sarawak:
If the PKR wins, it will be by a slim majority. If it loses, it will also be by a slim majority.
Almost every long-house gets free decorations – any maybe more – from the BN.
Jawah’s past has cast some doubts on some of the local folks. He looks physically not really fit, which will affect his campaign.
And the folks here are also asking, “Where are the top PR leaders?”
LIVE: Police move in at ceramah in Bukit Selambau
A Pakatan supporter vigorously waves the DAP flag to welcome the crowd to the party’s dinner in Simpang, Bukit Gantang tonight – Photo by Anil Netto
Pas posters flutter over the largely Chinese crowd at the DAP ceramah in Simpang
Close contest in Batang Ai
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…?
LIVE from Bkt Selambau: “Big shock” announcement
Ceramah only due to start at 9.30pm
Bkt Gantang: Pakatan confident but cautious
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 springs a surprise of his own
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.