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Helicopter beams searchlight on 30,000-crowd

Anil Netto
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This police chopper was one of a pair that circled continuously above the large crowd on Nomination Day (Photo credit: Abang Benet)

BUKIT JELUTONG, Permatang Pasir – A helicopter, believed to be a police chopper, beamed its searchlight over a crowd of about 30,000 listening to Anwar at a Pakatan ceramah just before he brought the curtain down at midnight yesterday.

“It’s okay, let them disturb us for a bit. I will complete my speech,” said Anwar earlier, as the helicopter clattered overhead. “It’s not always we get a helicopter in Permatang Pauh!”

Permatang Pasir, a state seat held by Pas, lies in the Malay heartland of Permatang Pauh. Thousands had gathered in a large open area in Bukit Jelutong, which was also filled by the huge travelling bazaar that follows Anwar’s ceramah everywhere. I saw stalls selling everything from nasi biriani, fried jackfruit and what looked like aphrodisiacs!

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Kin Woon quits Gerakan and BN

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Where is Kin Woon?: Gerakan leaders and reps stand in front of what looks like a pile of food on Nomination Day (Photo credit: Abang Benet)

Gerakan central committee member Toh Kin Woon has quit the party and, by extension, the BN.

He will probably focus more on civil society work. He is a long-time member and supporter of the social reform group Aliran and chairman of the Penang-based Socio-economic and Environmental Research Institute (Seri).

This is what Kin Woon said over the phone:

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My experience at a BN ceramah

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A Puteri Umno supporter in high spirits on Nomination Day (Photo credit: Abang Benet)

PERMATANG PAUH – While many people were trying to get to one of Anwar’s ceramahs last night, I stumbled upon a BN/Umno ceramah along the main road from the town centre.

It was in full flow with a crowd of 200 women and men – seated in separate sections – in the porch of a wooden double-storey building that houses the local Umno branch. Nearly all of them were Malay/Muslim.

I stood close to the main road, outside the house – I was not sure if I would be welcome – listening to a couple of the speakers: a Dato and an ustaz formerly from Pas.

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Nightmare (for BN) on Penanti Street

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The rise of the Anwar clones: PKR’s Gobalakrishnan wearing an Anwar face mask at Nomination Day today. Scores of others were seen bearing such masks.

A PKR supporter taunts an Umno man by waving RM10 ringgit notes in front of him

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LIVE: Vast PKR multitude overwhelms BN crowd

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PKR supporters dance in the middle of a sea of humanity to the beat of Indian drums

1215: And then, the heavens open, drenching the high-spirited crowds. “Hujan keramat (showers of blessings)!,” shouts one PKR supporter, looking up into the sky, as FRU personnel lining the road look on, blankly. I count 13 police trucks on my way out after dashing for shelter under one of the many stalls along the main road. Among those spotted in the crowd by others are Raja Petra, Rais Yatim,  and Ezam.

1145: It’s a three-corned fight, with the third candidate coming from Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim), which is said to be a Pas splinter group, set to play a spoiler’s role. All objections have been rejected. A huge roar erupts when Anwar’s name is announced. The Indian drumming group and dancers are now back in action livening up the atmosphere further. Thunder rolls in the sky as if to accompany the beat. It is threatening to rain.

Earlier, the Pakatan crowd were chanting “Al-tan-tu-ya!” in the open field at the BN supporters.

A PKR Chinese drumming group also performed as an appreciative, largely Malay crowd snapped photos.

Blog reader Muhammad Firdaus Christopher comments:

Syukur Alhamdulillah, Datuk Seri has started his journey towards being our 6th Prime Minister and the show begins tonight. For the record, I was there since 7.00am until about 11.45am and Masya Allah, I have never seen ever the thunderous and huge supporters of Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP, PAS) bestowing in Penanti/ Permatang Pauh. I strongly believe and estimate the crowd of supporters ranging between 90,000 – 110,000. I am speechless…

Love live DSAI and lets us all work extra hard to ensure that his first step into Parliament happens on the 26th August when we cast our votes.

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“Religion”, according to Syed Hamid Albar

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This is what constitutes “religion”, according to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar:

“If you are to write on religion, then you are supposed to touch on matters pertaining to:

– questions on rituals,

– adherence to God,

– followers and

– anything related to your divine mission.”

It is interesting that the first thing that comes to his mind when thinking of religion is “rituals” – and not   deeper spiritual values such as justice and concern for the poor.

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Permatang Pauh: The missing issue

Anil Netto
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There is one issue you will hardly hear about in the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign – even thought it affects one in three workers in the country.

Now, why would politicians who are desperate for votes ignore the concerns of one in three workers?

Perhaps it’s because when we talk about workers, we rarely think of the migrant workers in the country. Yes, one out of every three workers in the country is a migrant worker.

For the last two days I have been in Shah Alam attending a National Consultation on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers organised by Tenaganita, the Bar Council, Aliran and Caram Asia.

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Sisters in Islam book banned

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It’s not just The Herald and Catholic Asian News that has come under the Home Ministry’s scrutiny.

Two books on Islam including one by the respected group Sisters in Islam (SIS) have been banned. The books were banned because they contained “twisted facts on Islam that can undermine the faith of Muslims”, according to a Bernama report.

I contacted Zainah Anwar of SIS and she told me the book “Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism” was an old one which has been out since 2005. According to her, it was actually a compilation of papers arising from a seminar among Muslim women’s groups from around the region and edited by Norani Othman, an experienced academic and researcher.

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Herald under further pressure

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The Herald, a Catholic weekly published in Malaysia, is under further pressure from the Home Ministry, which will be scrutinising its forthcoming editorial on the Permatang Pauh by-election. The edition will reach the churches in the peninsula this weekend.

“The editorial is only asking people to pray for a just and fair by-election. Can’t we Christians ask fellow Christians to pray? Is that against the law?” Herald editor Fr Lawrence Andrew, SJ was quoted as saying.

The paper was given three warning letters before receiving a show-cause letter last month. Its licence could be suspended if its latest editorial displeases the Home Ministry, which feels the paper should stick to “religion” – according to the Ministry’s understanding of the term.

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Seberang Jaya state assembly member is BN candidate

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It’s Arif Shah Omar Shah vs Anwar Ibrahim.

Arif Shah, the Penang State Assembly member for Seberang Jaya, will be the BN candidate for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.

Said to be hard-working and a Mandarin speaker, he reportedly has a service centre in Taman Pauh Jaya in Jalan Baru with seven full-time and five part-time staff.

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