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“Business-friendly” or people-friendly state govts?

Anil Netto

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13 Mar 2008

There’s been a lot of reaction over the selection of the Perak Mentri Besar, which has gone to a Pas candidate. Kit Siang should not have asked his DAP state assembly members to boycott the swearing in. After all, there was an agreement among the DAP, PKR and Pas at the state level that they would respect the Perak Sultan’s choice.

And if party leaders believe in democracy, then they should understand their roles in the party. Lim, is just an adviser to the party, though he played a significant role in contributing to the Opposition’s good showing. It should be borne in mind that many Malaysians voted across ethnic and religious lines. By asking DAP assembly members to stay away, how different is that from the BN assembly members staying from Guan Eng’s swearing in ceremony in Penang? Really, Kit Siang should respect the wishes of a large number of Malaysians for these parties to work together.

In any case, the Perak DAP, one would think, would have a better feel of the local situation, along with its realities, and the need to cooperate with PKR and Pas.

In all the excitement about the ethnic composition (I thought we were going beyond racial politics – or are we still trapped in that old mentality) of the state governments, not enough people have inquired deeply into why the stock market plunged on Monday after the election results.

Some say it was the economic uncertainties in the United State, where a major financial meltdown could be on the cards. Then there are those who say that it was the political uncertainty in the aftermath of the shock opposition inroads in Malaysia. But another factor that has not been adequately discussed in the local media is the uncertaintly about the economic policies of the five new state governments.

I am sure the huge corporations in Malaysia would have been jittery with the prospect of an opposition victory in the industrial heartland of Malaysia. For one thing, controversial mega contracts might be reviewed. There might be added calls for a minimum wage in Malaysia. Cronyism involving top tycoons might be revealed. The policy of suppressing local wages by importing cheap migrant labour might be reviewed. The new state governments might impose stiff new environmental and planning regulations that would not go down well. There might be calls for a strengthening of the trade union movement and greater respect for labour rights. All this would have been a nightmare for Big Business.

A bouquet from the PGCC developer: “Business friendly” or “people friendly”?

So what did the opposition leaders do when they walked into the corridors of power in the states? Among the first things they did was to reassure the business community that they would be “business-friendly”. We have heard calls from both the BN and opposition leaders in Malaysia that they would uphold a “free market economy” (whatever that means) and “business-friendly” policies. There were pledges that all contracts signed would be respected (but what if they were signed in dubious circumstances, in bad faith and are against the public interest?).

No wonder the Malaysian stock exchange perked up after that. But did those assurances amount to a betrayal of the people’s aspirations for more people-friendly economic policies?

In a way, it reminded me of the general election outcome in India in 2004, when the BJP suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Congress. The Stock Exchange plunged too.

Listen to Arundhati Roy:

In its election campaign, the Congress party indicated that it was prepared to rethink some of its earlier economic policies. Millions of India’s poorest people came out in strength to vote in the elections. The spectacle of the great Indian democracy was telecast live – the poor farmers, the old and infirm, the veiled women with their beautiful silver jewellery, making quaint journeys to election booths on elephants and camels and bullock carts. Contrary to the predictions of all India’s experts and pollsters, the Congress won more votes than any other party. India’s Communist parties won the largest share of the vote in their history. India’s poor had clearly voted against neoliberalism’s economic “reforms” and growing fascism. As soon as the votes were counted, the corporate media dispatched them like badly paid extras on a film set. Television channels featured split screens. Half the screen showed the chaos outside the home of Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, as the coalition government was cobbled together. The other half showed frenzied stockbrokers outside the Bombay Stock Exchange, panicking at the thought that the Congress party might actually honour its promises and implement its electoral mandate. We saw the Sensex stock index move up and down and sideways. The media, whose own publicly listed stocks were plummeting, reported the stock market crash as though Pakistan had launched ICBMs on New Delhi.

Even before the new government was formally sworn in, senior Congress politicians made public statements reassuring investors and the media that privatisation of public utilities would continue. Meanwhile the BJP, now in Opposition, has cynically, and comically, begun to oppose foreign direct investment and the further opening of Indian markets.

This is the spurious, evolving dialectic of electoral democracy.

As for the Indian poor, once they’ve provided the votes, they are expected to bugger off home. Policy will be decided despite them.

Similarly, did the millions of low-income Malaysians vote for business-friendly policies or people-friendly policies? Did they vote for a free-market economy with lots of tax incentives for the big corporations or did they vote for greater subsidies and more assistance for the poor and those struggling to make ends meet?

Remember the election promises? To lower the price of oil (more subsidies presumably – though this would be unsustainable in the long run). To provide free education from primary to university level (more social spending). To do something about higher food prices – presumably caused by “free-market” economic policies that promote cash crops and biofuel ahead of food security. To tackle the growing gap between the rich and the poor – also the result of neo-liberal “free-market” policies and massive corporate projects tied in with cronyism. To protect the environment from the ravages of a rampant corporatocracy. To protect the rights of the working class. At least those were the promises I heard at the ceramah. Of course, there was much talk about Malaysia losing out in terms of “competitiveness” and “foreign investment” due to corruption etc, but for the most part, the promises were about more subsidies and policies to protect the people’s interest.

Neo-liberal “free-market” policies are hardly the solution. In fact, they are the cause of much of our misery. The “trickle down” approach has not worked either; instead, it has widened the chasm between the rich and the poor so that today Malaysia has among the largest income disparities in the region.

In a sense, the BN’s loss amounts to the people’s rejection of “business-friendly” neoliberal economic policies that have added to the people’s burden: think of the spiralling costs for the rakyat following the privatisation or corporatisation of utilities, education, water, and health care.

The opposition leaders should do well to remember that the people voted for people- and worker-friendly policies and not “business-friendly” policies. They should think twice and three times before they capitulate to powerful business interests

From the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching, the economy should serve the people and not people serve the economy and workers should take precedence over capital and not vice versa.

For a start, the Penang state government must call for wide-ranging public consultation on all these mega projects. A thorough cost-benefit analysis – which would take into account traffic and environmental impact – must be carried out.

Source: The Edge Daily

If they are not feasible or if they are environmentally damaging, they must be scrapped in favour of more cost-efficient, sustainable, people-friendly alternatives.

For example, would a cheaper tram service be more cost-efficient than a monorail system? Would it enhance the heritage value of George Town?

How about improving the bus service and poor ferry service for a start? That won’t cost a bomb.

Scrap the PGCC project and turn the land into a People’s Park.

And look into the sale of the huge plot of land on Penang Hill formerly used by the La Salle Brothers’ bungalow to a tycoon or his son. The state government must look into zoning and bulding plans as this plot lies in an eco-sensitive area. We don’t want to have another Disneyland or huge high-rise buildings on the side of the hill. The new state government must exercise greater control over Penang Hill compared to the previous administration.

And while we on the subject of “development” projects, look again at the “Gurney Paragon” project on the 10-acre St Joseph’s Novitiate (former Uplands School) site. As a friend of mine observed, this should be a prime candidate for a thorough review of land conversion/alienation deals. People want to know how it was possible for a property provided for educational/religious purposes to be converted to mixed/commercial development.

Do remember who voted for you: the people, including millions of workers. And they want people-friendly, worker-friendly policies – ahead of business-friendly policies.

BN’s popular vote dips below 50% in Peninsula

Anil Netto

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11 Mar 2008

13

Greetings from Ground Zero, three days after the political hurricane that struck a wide swathe all the way from Kedah to Selangor.

This morning, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was sworn in as Penang Chief Minister even as Zakaria Md Deros passed away. (Oh, what good is storing worldly treasures in earthly palaces when you can’t take it with you when you go? I think there is a message from above in there, especially in the timing.) It is a historic day for it is the first time the Opposition is taking over the reins of the Penang state government in nearly 40 years.

Koh Tsu Koon, still gracious in defeat, was present, but BN state assembly members reportedly stayed away. In fact, Koh deserves to be commended for the calm, collected way he has handled this devastating defeat and for facilitating a smooth transition.

Chief Minister Lim pledged to introduce a Freedom of Information Act, ensure open tenders for public projects, work towards the revival of local council elections and get public servants to declare their assets. Penang’s influential civil society groups are expected to make even more recommendations in the weeks ahead.

It remains to be seen whether the BN-controlled federal government will attempt to trim or delay its financial allocations to the state in the months and years ahead. If that happens, the Penang government will have to be even more creative and imaginative in raising funds through, for instance, a review of land reclamation projects.

Let’s wait and see what happens in Perak and Selangor.

Many of us are still struggling to come to terms with the scale of the Opposition’s inroads.

According to my researcher friend, the BN’s share of the popular vote in the peninsula actually dipped below the 50 per cent mark. The BN received just 49.8 per cent of the popular votes cast. For the whole country, the BN bagged 51.5 per cent of votes cast as more than 60 per cent of the residents of Sabah and Sarawak opted for its component parties. On the other hand, more than than 60 per cent of voters in KL and Penang voted for the Opposition’s parliamentary candidates.

He also pointed out some other fascinating statistics:

More than half of the Malaysian population (52 per cent) live in areas where the Opposition triumphed – the five states under Opposition rule plus the Federal Territory of KL, which the Opposition swept as well. These areas accounted for 63 per cent of the total ballots issued.

These areas also account for 47 per cent of the bumiputera population. If only the ethnic Malays are considered, then 57 per cent of the Malay population now live in these Opposition areas. In addition, almost three quarters of Indian Malaysians reside in these areas.

In terms of economic wealth, these states account for 56 per cent of the country’s GDP. (Calculations based on figures obtained from the Mid-term Review of the Eigth Malaysia Plan.)

The Opposition-held areas include three of the wealthiest regions (in terms of per capita income) – KL, Selangor and Penang (though it must be noted that income disparities are wide) – and the two poorest states, Kelantan and Kedah.

Weird result for Mukhriz on SPR website

There is something weird about the Election Commission figures for the Jerlun parliamentary seat, which was won by Mukhriz Mahathir (who is now giving Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi a hard time).

If the Election Commission’s figures are to be believed, the voter turnout was an incredible 99.85 per cent! The ballots issued were 37,242 compared to the electorate size of 37,297.

In contrast, the state seats within the Jerlun area saw a turnout of 81-82 per cent.

Assuming there are still a number of dead voters on the rolls, it is virtually impossible to record 99.85 per cent. The Commission must clarify how this is possible.

These figures are from the Election Commission’s website:

P.5 – JERLUN
		37,297	37,242	99.85%

P.5 – JERLUN
	N.3 – KOTA SIPUTEH	19,771	16,126	81.56%	278	495	BN
	N.4 – AYER HITAM	25,742	21,171	82.24%	352	506	PAS

Update: Thanks, Frank and Sean, for pointing out that the total electorate for Jerlun should be 45,513 and not 37,297 as stated on the SPR website. This would then give a turnout of 81.8 per cent, which is about right, and not 99.85 per cent.

Just for the record, during the 1969 general election, the Alliance (the predecessor to the BN) lost Penang, Perak and Kelantan while Selangor was dead even at 14-14. If I am not mistaken, the Alliance could only secure 49 per cent of the popular vote.

Here is an article I wrote for Asia Times Online:

Political shift in the industrial heart

By Anil Netto

PENANG – A torrential downpour drenched the northern state of Penang during the late afternoon of Malaysia’s March 8 general election day. Many political analysts had earlier anticipated some waves of democratic change for the area, the country’s only state with an ethnic Chinese majority; few anticipated the political tsunami which actually ensued.

Penang, like many other areas of the country fed up with corruption, discriminatory policies towards minorities, general disillusionment with public institutions and a rising cost of living, was ripe for political change. The combined opposition secured 29 of Penang’s 40-seat assembly, with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) clinching 19 of those parliamentary spots. Full article

Jubilation in Sungai Siput as Samy rides into the sunset

Anil Netto

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9 Mar 2008

27

Photo credit: PSM Operations Room, Sungai Siput

So Jeyakumar Devaraj of Parti Sosialis Malaysia has finally triumphed over S Samy Vellu. When I spoke to him early this morning, he sounded tired but happy. It had been a long, long struggle – more than nine years.

“I think the victory was largely due to the nationwide swing to the opposition,” he said, modestly.

I told him that that alone would not have been enough to unseat Samy Vellu, who once famously defeated the DAP titan P Patto in an epic battle. “It was your dedication, commitment to the cause and perseverance on behalf of the people over the years that saw you through,” I said. “I think that shone through, making it impossible for the people of Sungai Siput to ignore you.

“Plus you had an incredible team of supporters who gave their all in campaigning for you.” He couldn’t argue with that.

In one corner, you had Kumar, the soft-spoken respiratory physician who has sacrificed so much for the grassroots and marginalised communities. His quiet front belies a steely determination and passion for empowering the poor. Even the MMA recognised his commitment to society and awarded him a gold medal for community service many years ago.

One doctor recalls working as a houseman when Dr Kumar was the Chest Physician in Ipoh GH: “He was the most approachable and soft spoken consultant. He would treat us lowly housemen with kindness and patience whenever we spoke to him. His heart really is to help the poor as his chest clinic would be filled with his patients who absolutely loved him. Dr Kumar drove around in his old Volkswagon and lives a very humble life. So if anyone deserves to win, it is him. Humility has triumphed over arrogance!”

Kumar represents a multi-ethnic approach to politics; he sharply critiques the way the capitalist class are marginalising workers and other grassroots communities. Also an Aliran member, he had pointed out the flaws in Hindraf’s communal approach, which he said was misguided. Instead, he called for a broader multi-ethnic analysis of what was fuelling alienation, disenchantment and marginalisation. This broader world-view seems to have drawn support from the Indians, Malays and Chinese of Sungai Siput who voted for him in surprising numbers.

Kumar, along with economist Charles Santiago, the new MP for Klang, will be a tremendous asset in Parliament in checking the trend towards neo-liberal economic policies while highlighting the huge gap between the rich and the poor of all ethnic groups.

In the other corner, you had the flamboyant and eloquent Samy Vellu, the powerful MIC supremo, for whom funding for infrastructure projects was no problem. Samy Vellu is of course an integral part of the entrenched race-based system of politics, a keen supporter of the capitalist class. His ministry is responsible for awarding multi-million ringgit privatisation projects that generates huge profits for this class. Not to forget the Maika scandal that has dogged his every step for years – until the Hindraf protests exploded into a cacophony of boos and jeers that greeted him wherever he ventured outside Sungai Siput. It was in Penang – ground zero of the political quake – that the jeers were first heard in the Penang International Sports Arena, as reported in this blog earlier.

I can’t say I knew Samy Vellu personally. But my late grand-aunt, Anna, was his teacher in Batu Arang, once a prosperous mining town in Selangor where the young Samy grew up in the 1940s and worked as an office boy. The Batu Arang English School was actually set up by the coal-mining company.

Samy’s parents, who were both rubber tappers, eventually settled in Batu Arang, where his father worked in the coal mine. The young Samy (Left: Samy Vellu and his mother) would have been familiar with the huge open mines into which lorries would descend until they appeared to be the same size as matchboxes to those standing at ground level.

I took a trip down memory lane to Batu Arang during the Lunar New Year holidays. The old school is still there; so is the school field. It is all lush and green today.

It was not all green in those days. The British burned down the jungle foliage on both sides of the approach road to Batu Arang because they were afraid the communists would lie in wait to ambush them – so the roadsides were all brown and dry.

Back then, a visitor to Batu Arang would have been greeted with the smell of burnt coal and some parents including Anna would fret about the effect the pollution would have on their children’s health. Others worried whether the tunnels deep beneath the earth would collapse.

Today, the deep open mines are filled with water and resemble picturesque lakes. Small groups of Indian Malaysian young men gather to chit-chat on the grass by the lake with little piles of crushed beer cans near them evidence of their ‘liquid’ picnic.

Grand-aunt Anna, whom I called Amma, would reminisce with me: “Even in those days, Samy had the gift of the gab.” Indeed, Samy would go on to become a Tamil drama actor, a news-reader and eventually a political boss who is not exactly reticent or tongue-tied. In fact, he is regarded as one of the best orators in the Tamil language in Malaysia today.

I can’t say Amma was terribly impressed with Samy and how he had turned out, though. She had a habit of speaking her mind and didn’t suffer fools gladly. She was also aware of the Maika scandal. Still, she was bemused by the great respect he had for his former teachers. Some years ago, when she was arriving at a wedding reception for one of Samy Vellu’s relatives, the MIC president spotted her entering the hall. He immediately yelled excitedly to his brother, “Palani, teacher varuthe (teacher has come)!” (S Palanivelu passed away last year after a heart attack.) Whereupon both of them raced up to pay their respects to her. “Dei, naalkaali kondu va! (Get her a chair!)” Samy ordered one of his aides.

I also bumped into another retired Batu Arang School teacher, in his late seventies or eighties, who described to me the young Samy’s tenacity. Now this teacher had a beautiful Triumph motorbike when he was in Batu Arang, which he parked by the road one day. As he watched from a distance, he noticed the young Samy Vellu walking up to admire the bike. Time passed, and one day, as this teacher was out driving, he spotted a young man vrooming past him on a Triumph bike. It was Samy who had got or borrowed a bike of his own! “You see how tenacious and determined he was?” the former teacher mused.

Samy Vellu’s perseverance saw him taking evening classes to become a draughtsman and he eventually went to the UK to study architecture. If you are interested, you can actually see his name listed on the website of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

(Just search for “Malaysia” and you will see a list of architects based in Malaysia. Look for the names beginning with “S” and you will see the name “Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu , Malaysia”.)

Why am I telling you all this? Just to say that Samy Vellu had humble beginnings but through sheer perseverance, tenacity and who-knows-what-else worked his way to the top. No one denies he has helped some Indian Malaysians with infrastructure and scholarships etc – but like the rest of us, Samy had choices to make along the way: Would he offer them the spoils or the scraps? Where would the spoils really go? Would he really address the root causes of their sense of disempowerment or would he just offer band-aid solutions and cash handouts to address their immediate problems? Could he – would he – have done more, a lot more, to empower the dispossessed? Or would he be more interested in serving the elite capitalist class? And should he have known when to quit, on his own terms, before the writing was on the wall?

In the end, he slunk into anonymity, a sad, solitary figure who will have much soul-searching to do during his retirement.

After an incredible night, BN loses two-thirds’ majority!

Anil Netto

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8 Mar 2008

80

Headline news: Penang, Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor, Perak fall to opposition hands.

In: Jeyakumar Devaraj, Charles Santiago, Nurul Izzah, Prof Ramasamy, Tian Chua, Khairy(!)

Out: Samy Vellu, Zam, Sharizat, Awang Adek, Koh Tsu Koon

5.47am – The results couldn’t be any better in terms of the fine balance among the opposition parties. PKR has the most opposition seats in Parliament but the lowest in terms of state seats. On the other hand, Pas has the most state seats but the least parliamentary seats. Pas has the most seats in two state governments, the DAP in two as well, while the multi-ethnic PKR helms the strategically important Selangor government and will probably lead the Parliamentary Opposition. It’s a victory for multi-ethnic politics; it also shows what is possible when ethnic and religious barriers are broken. Good night, Malaysia!

5.07am – Latest tally of parliamentary seats (219 out of 222 parliamentary seats counted):

BN – 137; PKR – 31; DAP – 28; Pas – 23

This means the Opposition has denied the BN a two-thirds’ majority.

It also means that PKR will emerge as the largest opposition party and its coalition with Pas could lead to Anwar Ibrahim standing in a by-election and – if he wins – going on to become Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

Latest tallies of state seats for the opposition states:

Penang: BN 11 – Opposition 29 (DAP – 19, PKR – 9; Pas – 1)

Perak: BN 28 – Opposition 31 (DAP – 18; PKR – 7; Pas – 6)

Kelantan: BN 6 – Opposition 39 (Pas – 38; PKR -1)

Selangor:BN 20 – Opposition 36 (PKR – 15; DAP – 13, Pas – 8 )

Kedah: BN 14 – Opposition 22 (Pas – 16; PKR – 4; DAP – 1; Ind – 1)

3.39am – I just want to say I am so proud of all of you Malaysians who have struggled to end oppression and injustice in our land. So many people played a part, in their own little way – whether by sending text messages and emails urging their friends to vote or by simply raising awareness among family members and friends or by attending ceramahs to show support and solidarity. Now, we can really be proud to be Malaysian, for we have fought the good fight and will continue to struggle for Justice always. After all these years of struggle and sacrifice, we now see some results, by the grace of God.

Actually, I knew something awesome was going to happen when a heavy downpour hit Penang this afternoon. I told my friends this was hujan keramat, showers of blessing. Okay, since I am sleepless in Penang, maybe a simple prayer of thanksgiving would be good:

“Almighty God/Allah, thank you for an amazing night. You are a God of Justice, Truth and Compassion. You love especially the poor, the meek, the marginalised and the overburdened. You want your people to be ruled with Justice and Peace. Thank you for taking us a major step forward in this direction. Thank you for making all of us more aware of the importance of the struggle for Justice and Truth. Let Justice flow like a mighty river in our land. Thank you, Lord. Amen/Amin.”

3.26am – This could be the icing on the cake for the Opposition. Harakah reports that Anwar has announced: “The BA has succeed in forming the governent in five states, that is, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak dan Selangor… We have succeeded in denying (the BN) a two-thirds’ majority in Parliament.”

2.50am – Before the new Penang state government can even be formed, a Penangite in Sarawak, Andrew, phones me to relay probably the first demand: “Tell the new state government to turn the Penang Turf Club (PTC) into a state park. I don’t care how they do it – buy back the land from the developer if necessary – but when I come back, I want to take a walk in our new state park.”

That means, the PGCC has to go. The DAP and PKR should remember that its candidates for the area vowed to the Turf Club’s neighbouring residents that they would oppose the PGCC. Now there are calls and demands for the land to be turned into a state park.

Says another Penangite: “Looking at the recent turns of events, I strongly believe that the PTC land should be made even greener than it is – it should just be a Penang People’s Park and NOTHING ELSE. We can discuss the detailed elements to be included later (see below) but let ‘s look at the bigger picture first.

“With the Light (project) coming up along the coastal expressway (it’s rather quiet, does anyone know the latest news about this project?), with the Penang Time Square taking shape in the city, with Komtar’s fate still hanging in limbo, and with so many multi-million ringgit bungalows and highrise residential properties mushrooming around the island (Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah, the Light, Bayan Bay (Queensbay now?) etc. which are effectively out of the economic reach of most Penangites, we do not need any more property development of the PGCC kind or of its yet-to-be-revealed down-scaled but surely elitist version. What Penang is missing more is an interconnected network of blue and green spaces that anchors and penetrates all the built-up areas and that provides the much needed high quality spaces for various recreational and sporting activities some of us have passionately described. In fact, greening the PTC land is ONLY THE BEGINNING.” More on this in a later entry.

2.28am – A journalist friend from the mainstream media phones: “The MIC has been reduced to ashes. It is on the verge of obliteration.” It’s top leadership has been almost wiped out – Samy, Palanivel, Sothinathan, Vigneswaran, Komala Devi…

But another friend phones to point out an irony: “There is now more ethnic Indian Malaysian representation in Parliament and the state assemblies than ever before – this time coming from the opposition ranks. We never needed the MIC and its racial politics.”

2.19am – The BN has now clinched a simple parliamentary majority, according to TV3. Abdullah Badawi and Najib hold hands and raise them up briefly before walking away. Does that mean the BN has lost its two-thirds majority? Commentator on TV3 only acknowledging that the BN has lost Penang and Kelantan, with a couple of other states “tergugat“. Another commentator is asking if the DAP will now work with Pas in Penang or will Pas sit in opposition ranks in the State Assembly. These are the new ‘ujian‘ and ‘cabaran‘, according to them.

2.10am – I don’t know about you – I am sleepy and yet I don’t want to sleep! My friend Kok Keong observes all the way from the United States: “Samy Vellu was reduced to having nothing to say upon learning about his defeat to Jeyakumar! This according to NST, which reported that as soon as he got the news of his loss, he hastily left Dewan Konvensyen and managed to say only ‘goodbye’ to supporters and reporters!”

Now, I can tell you that if anyone deserves to defeat Samy Vellu, it’s Jeyakumar, who has persevered for nine years and three elections to finally triumph over the powerful MIC leader. Some of you might not know that Kumar was once awarded a Gold Medal for Community Service by the Malaysian Medical Association and he has quietly served the community all this while, behind the scenes, despite not holding any public office. The people of Sg Siput have finally recognised his tremendous dedication, determination and self-sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Astro 501 now confirms that Rafidah has won again by around a thousand majority.

1.58am – A convoy of ten motorbikes, each bearing a PKR flag, is honking continuously in celebration as they pass by near my home. The young Malays are happy as their party is now in a coalition government with the DAP in Penang and has made big gains elsewhere.

1.55am – Selbyn sends this message: “After this weekend, Malaysians should eventually stop using the term “opposition”. It should be just different political parties/alliances functioning and contesting in a constitutional democratic country.”

1.36am – Peaceout sends this message: “A new day has arrived in sunny Malaysia! For many, they have waited about 40 years for this new wave of change. Power to the People & Makkal Sakthi ! The miraculous power of prayer has rocked Malaysia – without a doubt – GOD’s intervention! Malaysians be proud, don’t walk in fear, anymore, of those in power who have suppressed and oppressed us all in so many different ways. We have to hold our heads up high no matter what race we are or faith we believe in. To continue with peaceful rallies & protests if need be – should things not ‘change’ for the better according to all the promises made before elections. Our voices have been heard, Praise GOD and give thanks BUT do not be complacent though – carry on to make our voices heard always! To our Opposition – our future hopes – congratulations & make that change for all Malaysians! Peace Out & love to all Malaysians who dared to make a difference. God bless You. A new day, indeed!”

1.33am – The amazing story continues – a report from the NST: “As at 11.30pm, unofficial results show that PKR won Pantai Jerejak (Sim Tze Tzin), Kebun Bunga (Ong Khan Lee), Bukit Tengah (Ong Chin Wen), Bukit Tambun (Law Choo Kiang), Batu Uban (V S Raveenthran) and Pulau Betong (Mansor Othman). Pas incumbent candidate Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman retained the Permatang Pasir seat. The political tsunami which swept Penang, ending Gerakan’s 36-year rule of the state described as the party’s Jewel in the Crown, was not unexpected.” Let us hope the mainstream media will turn over a new leaf.

1.25am – More messages pour in, this one from Jude: “I never thought I’d live to see this day! The people have spoken. It’s beyond my wildest dreams. This is a victory for all ordinary malaysians. May this be the dawn of a new era for all Malaysians.”

1.20am – Strangely, TV3 reports that Rafidah has won.

1.15am – Astro 501 reports that “AP Queen” Rafidah is the latest casualty.

1.14am – Perak has fallen to opposition hands, according to a journalist friend working in the mainstream media.

12.56am – Amazingly, Lim Guan Eng will be the new Penang Chief Minister, PKR secretary general Khalid Ibrahim could be the new Selangor Mentri Besar, while a Pas candidate is likely to become Kedah Mentri Besar.

12.55am – I can hear honking on the streets in celebration.

12.41am – Selangor has fallen, with the opposition winning 35 out of the 56 seats. This night is getting unbelievable. The opposition parties are in discussions to form a new state government.

12.27am – A journalist working in a mainstream daily tells me that preliminary counting results indicate that Selangor has fallen to the Opposition. Perak could be next. I am getting conflicting reports about Perlis.

12.15am – The BN has retained Malacca.

12.09am – The Opposition has made inroads in Malacca while Tian Chua has won at Batu.

12.06am – Outgoing Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon has appeared on television at a press conference in Batu Kawan just before midnight to say the BN has lost 30 out of 40 seats in Penang. This means the new state government will have more than a two-thirds’ majority in the Penang State Assembly. He said that the opposition could possibly form a three-party alliance to take over the government. He gracefully conceded defeat while urging the people to remain calm.

11.59pm – The Election Commission’s website does not reflect reality. It’s midnight and they only have the results shown for 55 parliamentary seats: BN – 45, Pas -1, DAP – 6, PKR – 3. Still waiting for official results from 167 parliamentary seats.

11.55pm – Abdullah Badawi has reportedly accepted the defeat of the Barisan Nasional in several areas. He said that this is how democracy works, and urged people to remain calm and not to celebrate in the streets.

11.46pm – Pas supporters in Kota Bharu have gathered at the Kelantan Pas Liaison Office in Kota Bharu to celebrate their victory.

11.44pm – A journalist calls to tell me that the live coverage on rtm is a disgrace. He also adds,”That means there is no more PGCC (Penang Global City Centre) project now…” Now why didn’t I think of that! Time to drink a toast to that one.

11.37pm – I’d better get a drink. This might be a long night, at the rate the results are trickling in. Are you as sleepless as I am?

11.35pm – More text messages. This one from Chris: “Let’s pay tribute to Malaysians for their courage to stand up for truth and justice.”

11.31pm – Message from Bujang_burok in Sarawak: “Well done, Tsunami of Semenanjung! After the 12th GE, spread your wings to Sarawak. Our ‘Grey Hair’ is itching us so badly. Just couldn’t sleep – we keep scratching and scrubbing our heads. Please help to wake up our not-so-SNAPpy buddies. Or help us bark to register MDC. Or help us prune one of the no-good twigs of PRS.”

11.27pm – Blog reader Jude says: “ntv7, rtm1&2, TV3 all in denial mode. Some of their comments about voters being emotional and immature are really below the belt. Sour grapes from sour losers.”

11.25pm – I cannot access Malaysia Today now either.

11.17pm – Malaysiakini website goes down, probably due to heavy traffic.

11.16pm – Wan Azizah wins her Permatang Pauh seat with a bigger majority. MIC candidates fall like nine pins, led of course by Samy Vellu, who can now retire.

11.14pm – ntv7 reports that BN is leading by 43-4 in terms of parliamentary seats. Which planet are they on?

11.08pm – Anwar Ibrahim tells the international media that the government could lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament. “We have crossed the one-third majority. This is based on information from the candidates from the initial counting… This is a major victory… and we are moving up very fast towards 40 percent… We have thrashed the Barisan Nasional in its traditional seats, including Umno in its stronghold.”

“My concern now is why is there a deliberate delay on the part of the government-controlled media in announcing the results,” he said. “

“I feel truly vindicated by the mass support given to the opposition,” he told AFP. “Going forward, Malays, Indians and Chinese all have to work together and make us a formidable force.”

11.07pm – The earlier report about Khairy losing was incorrect. He seems to be leading now.

10.56pm – Kedah is the third state likely to fall. Unofficial results indicate that Pas and PKR have bagged 22 out of 36 state seats in Kedah. The DAP has also won a state seat. PAS/PKR are also likely to clinch six parliamentary seats. What is going on in Perlis and Malacca?

10.47pm – Pas has retained Kelantan with 31 out of 45 seats.

10.40pm – Sivarasah has won the Subang parliamentary seat. All three state seats in Subang have fallen to opposition hands: PSM’s Nasir has won the Kota Damansara state seat. Elizabeth Wong has also clinched her seat.

Khalid Ibrahim has won Bandar Tun Razak and the Ijok state seat. The PKR Wanita chief has won the Ampang parliamentary seat. Pas women’s leader Dr Lo’ Lo’ Ghazali has won in Titiwangsa.

Journalist Terence Netto tells me this is a “political tsunami”.

10.35pm – The earlier report was incorrect. Najib has actually won in Pekan with a huge majority.

10.33pm – As expected, Guan Eng wins the Bagan parliamentary seat.

10.26pm – Khairy appears to have lost after a recount. (Update: He actually won.) Zam seems to have lost. What’s happening to Najib? This is nothing short of an earthquake.

10.21pm – The DAP leadership has issued a good victory statement, urging everyone to remain calm. Former(!) Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon has apparently said he would facilitate the transition.

10.19pm – Unconfirmed reports: Kedah has fallen to opposition hands. Perlis could be slipping. BN has retained Trengganu but has lost seats. BN wins in Pahang are with significantly reduced majorities.

10.15pm – NST reports that Samy Vellu has lost to Jeyakumar. But is that before the recount?

10.08pm – Jeyakumar is leading Samy Vellu by around 2,000 votes in a recount. Keep praying!

10.06pm – My friend activist Charles Santiago has won in Klang! He will be an enormous asset to challenge the drift towards economic neoliberalism in Malaysia.

9.59pm – Unconfirmed reports say Najib and Samy Vellu have lost. (Update: Najib has actually won). If this is true, it is time to pop the champagne. The Star Online is only reporting Sabah and Sarawak results now!

9.52pm – PKR appears to have picked up half a dozen state seats in Penang. This augurs well for a multi-ethnic opposition…. err, I mean ruling coalition… in Penang! A new ruling coalition in Penang? That will take some getting used to. I wonder who will be the leader of the BN Opposition in the Penang State Assembly. Now, there’s a thought.

9.49pm – Phone call from a friend recalling the DAP’s massive rally at Han Chiang. It’s a reality check: “I was so moved to tears that night. Not because I was overwhelmed by the speakers, but I could see the enormous trust that ordinary people were placing on these opposition politicians. I just hope these opposition politicians do not betray that trust.”

9.45pm – Suddenly, the BN could find it rough going even at the federal level. Could the two-thirds majority be slipping?

9.43pm – Perlis, Kedah and Malacca could fall to opposition hands too. Out of the 12 seats in Wilayah, the BN may have won only two.

9.30pm – Another SMS from a Malay friend: “Should someone not wake Pak Lah up to inform him of the bad news?”

9.23pm – My relative is watching the results on TV. She says the score shows BN leading the Opposition 19-1 in parliamentary seats. She is shocked when I tell her Penang has fallen to the Opposition. When will they announce the real results on TV?

9.20pm – Just received an SMS saying Nurul Izzah has won in Lembah Pantai. Teresa Kok wins big. This is turning out to be an amazing night.

9.14pm – The DAP-PKR-Pas alliance appears to have won 25 seats out of 40 in Penang.

9.08pm – The Bernama website has no reports of election results. Kit Siang’s blog is down probably due to heavy traffic.

9.05pm – The NST reports that Penang has fallen to opposition hands: “After 40 years of continuous rule, the Barisan Nasional has lost the state government to the loose alliance of DAP, PKR and Pas, according to unofficial results from the polling centres. The loss is the biggest shock in tonight’s polls results.”

9.01pm – As at 8.30pm, The Star Online’s election updates have nothing to report on the situation in Penang. The Bernama website has no election results.

8.57pm – Ipoh falls too as Kit Siang and Kula triumph in their parliamentary seats.

8.56pm – The BN could retain Trengganu but Perlis, Kedah and even Selangor could be shaky.

8.52pm – To what extent is the Makkal Sakthi phenomenon responsible for this political quake?

8.45pm – Will Guan Eng be the new Chief Minister of Penang? The unexpected (well, not totally) is happening almost all over the country.

8.27pm – A friend of mine drives past Karpal Singh’s house. Someone there gives a thumbs up sign indicating that Karpal Singh has won. Ramasamy has knocked out Koh Tsu Koon in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat. Now what for Koh?

8.25pm – The Opposition is likely to form the new state government in Penang. All three CM-designates from the Gerakan appear to have lost. This is just amazing. People Power has triumphed.

8.20pm – The change is all over the country. Incredible! There is a shift in Malay votes in Terengganu towards the Opposition. Nasharuddin has won his seat against Awang Adek in Bachok in Kelantan. Opposition is leading in 33 seats in Kelantan. Four parliamentary seats in Sarawak are likely to go to Opposition.

8.10pm – Unofficial sources say the DAP and PKR are leading in 17 seats and could be on course to form the state government in Penang. Why am I not surprised?

7.45 pm – I receive an SMS saying that Jeyakumar is leading in 7 of the Sg Siput polling stations.

7.30pm – The DAP wins at the polling station on top of Penang Hill. This has traditionally gone to the BN in previous elections.

7.15pm – The DAP is doing well in all its strongholds in Penang.

4.00pm – The heavens open up this afternoon in Penang with a heavy downpour. Hujan keramat, showers of blessing as the nation prepares for a sea change .

It’s a sacred day… Share with me your polling day impressions

Anil Netto

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8 Mar 2008

38

This is the moment we have been waiting for. I have already cast my ballot, have you? It was peaceful and orderly at the polling booth. I could see dedicated volunteers and officials.

But I think the Election Commission must be allergic to ink – especially the indelible variety. Instead of a ball-point pen, they provide you with a pencil in the polling booth.

Last night, a human rights activist said something that struck me: “Polling day is like a sacred day. I can feel the aura of quietness inside the polling centre, in the classroom. It is something yang murni.”

Yes, it is a sacred day. And we have a heavy responsibility to make the right choice while exorcising any would-be phantoms.

There is an air of expectation.

I met one of my neighbours, an elderly Chinese Malaysian, this morning as he and his family were returning home after they had voted.

“How did it go?” I asked him.

He hesitated a moment, and then said solemnly, “There’s a strong wind blowing.”

Yes, the winds of change are blowing. Will they be enough to blow away the phantoms, though? That’s not even considering the postal ballots, over which hang many question marks.

Do the right thing and vote for Malaysia. Vote for democracy, vote for justice and reforms. Share with me your polling day impressions below, won’t you?

Campaign in Penang ends on a multiracial high as Anwar warns of phantoms

Anil Netto

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8 Mar 2008

7

The Opposition campaign in Penang ended last night on a multi-racial high as 8,000 people crowded the main road in Sungai Ara near the Pas markas.

For the first time in Penang, I noticed that all the ethnic groups were well represented. Malay men shouted Makkal Sakthi along with their Indian counterparts while everyone shouted reformasi! Many held aloft PKR and DAP flags while above the stage, a Pas flag rose into the air. Like at the Han Chiang school field the previous night, large screens were placed at strategic places while a crane held aloft a video-cameraman high in front of the stage.

Anwar arrived to a rousing welcome. He reminded the crowd that we are all one family – and the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians and others must unite to do away with the corruption and injustice under the BN. That call for a unity of purpose went down well with the crowd. He also promised free education for all, a lowering of oil prices, and affordable health care.

“Do you want Pak Lah’s economic corridors or free education?” he asked the crowd.

“Free education,” they yelled back.

“Do you want these economic corridors or lower oil prices?”

“Lower price!”

He also warned the crowd to be wary of phantom voters “rising from the dead at night” to come out and vote this morning. He urged voters to come out in sufficiently large numbers to overwhelm any phantom votes.

Several police trucks rumbled by slowly on the road nearby creating some consternation, but nothing happened.

Anwar stressed to the crowd the last time the BN lost its two-thirds majority was in 1969, but this time there would be no trouble. Unlike the run-up to the 1969 election when there was palpable ethnic tension in the air, this time, the Malays, Chinese and Indians were united against the BN, he pointed out.

All the candidates in the area, a string of them under a PKR slate and a female teacher from Pas, were introduced and received loud cheers. One Chinese PKR candidate spoke of his moving encounter with the suffering and tears of ordinary folk living on subsistence income and poor health and wondered aloud if this was the kind of Malaysia we all wanted.

Over at Perak Lane, another 4,000 people were still out at a ceramah close to midnight, while another one was held in the Mt Erskine area.

What was most encouraging at Sungai Ara was the truly multi-ethnic composition of the crowd, all motivated to bring about change.

Update from Kelantan:

Meanwhile, Farish Noor told me after midnight that things appear to be “crazy” over in Kelantan. Amazingly, Pas supporters were already celebrating victory in Kota Bharu. But the boys from Husam Musa’s team told him that all their reports are bad and Umno is gaining ground for some reason. Buses with voters (genuine ones?) were entering Kelantan, making it impossible to predict the results now.

Massive 60,000-strong rally in Penang raises Opposition hopes

Anil Netto

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6 Mar 2008

22

Photo credit: DAP Ceramah; More pictures here.

If you thought last Saturday’s ceramah attended by 10,000 people at the Han Chiang High School indoor stadium was huge, think again…

The crowd tonight, this time out in the open in the vast Han Chiang school field, was massive. My engineer friend, a maths whizz, at first tried to estimate the crowd size based on the guesstimated length and breadth of the school field to determine its area multiplied by the average crowd density per square metre! But the crowd kept rising all the time and soon spilled all around the field and outside the perimeter fencing. Finally, he just gave up on his maths and settled for a rough estimate of 60,000. Another researcher who accompanied me also independently came up with a figure of 60,000, saying the turnout could have packed a large football stadium. I concurred with them both. A fourth person, a magazine editor, said the crowd was “easily 50,000”.

Of course, you can’t judge voter sentiment just by the crowd size. But this was no ordinary crowd. Many of them were young. They cheered, they clapped, they whistled, they roared, they sang, they chanted – and they sent a buzz of energy into the air. Indeed, the atmosphere was electric. Seven times, led by a speaker, they chanted, “Jom ubah!”

The DAP had set up a sophisticated audiovisual system with giant screens strategically placed. High-quality inhouse-produced music videos with catchy songs further charged the electricity in the air. A large crane, onto which was affixed a powerful spotlight, lifted a video-cameraman high up into the air so that he could film aerial views of the crowd which were projected “live” onto the giant screens. The crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed when they saw themselves on the screen stretching far out into dark ends of the field.

Jeff Ooi, clearly a crowd favourite, strummed the guitar and belted a few Chinese songs in a somewhat hoarse voice – which made him sound a bit like Louis Armstrong! – much to the delight of the crowd.

If during the largely ethnic Malay-dominated Bersih demonstration last November many wore bright yellow T shirts, and if the Makkal Sakthi Indian Malaysians opted for pale orange, tonight many in the crowd – more than half of them – sported bright red or white tops – the colours of the DAP, apart from red being the auspicious colour of the Chinese.

Karpal, Guan Eng, and Kit Siang received rapturous welcomes as each made a grand entrance into the field, accompanied by Rocket flag bearers wading through the sea of people. A couple of people swung Keadilan flags. Fireworks erupted in the air.

The speeches lacked substance, but the crowd didn’t mind. All the speakers had to do was say, “We must deny the Barisan a two-thirds majority” and a great roar would reverberate across the field. One of them led the crowd in chanting “Up, Up DAP! Down, down, Barisan!” Still, Karpal demanded the release of the Hindraf ISA detainees while other candidates spoke up strongly against the PGCC project.

Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, the PKR candidate for the Bayan Baru parliamentary seat, turned up, representing Wan Azizah, who was unable to attend (apparently because Hishammuddin had turned up in Permatang Pauh to give her a hard time). Zahrain pledged that the PKR candidates would work with their DAP counterparts “like brothers” to send the BN packing, triggering cheers from the crowd.

A steady drizzle during the first half of the proceedings didn’t deter the crowd, many of whom had come prepared with brollies.

Earlier that evening, before attending the rally, I went to buy some pau in a largely Chinese-majority area. I asked the pau man who he was voting for this time.

He hesitated, looking somewhat undecided – one of those floating voters perhaps. Then he asked me a telling question, “Why-ah everyone voting for opposition this time…?”

PKR, DAP candidates vow to oppose PGCC; BN reps fail to show up

Anil Netto

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6 Mar 2008

3

The PKR and DAP candidates have assured residents at a condominium complex next to the Penang Turf Club that they would firmly oppose the Penang Global City Centre project if they are elected.

All the election candidates in the area – both BN and Opposition – were invited to meet the residents of the 72 Scotland Park condominium complex. But the BN candidates failed to show up as they preferred to be with Abdullah Badawi who was in town taking part in an event at nearby Rifle Range. When that event ended, they told the organisers at Scotland Park over the phone after 11.00pm that they would not be coming after they found out that the opposition candidates had been there for two hours along with the media.

The opposition candidates were PKR’s Jason Ong, a lawyer who is standing in the Kebun Bunga state seat, and the DAP’s Liew Chin Tong, a full-time party worker standing in the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat. To their credit, they recognised the importance of preserving the environment in Penang and promised to articulate the concerns of residents in the Penang State Assembly and Parliament.

Both candidates came across as sincere, earnest and faily articulate if a little raw – and they were not given an easy ride by the politically aware residents and their friends from outside.

For one thing, the residents wanted them to publicly pledge that they would not defect to the BN if they were voted in under an opposition ticket – a pledge the candidates readily gave.

Secondly, they wanted to know what concrete steps the candidates would take to see to it that the PGCC project was buried for good. The candidates’ response sounded vague and some of the steps they suggested had already been carried out by the PGCC Campaign Group. They cited meagre resources and lack of access to the media, but the PGCC Campaign Group representatives pointed out that they too had lacked resources but still managed to stall the project.

Though the outcome of the session remained inconclusive, I detected a certain degree of receptiveness to the opposition candidates among the majority of the 30-40 people present. In particular, they seemed impressed that they had actually turned up to face the residents whereas the BN candidates lost a valuable opportunity to share with residents what they could do. Their priority, it would seem, was to be with Abdullah Badawi when he was visiting Rifle Range.

One activist with the PGCC Campaign Group pointed out that the PGCC developer’s plan to divert its required 30 per cent quota of low- and medium-cost housing to Rifle Range would lead to even more overcrowding in that already congested area. I wonder if the BN reps were even aware of that.

Indelible ink U-turn casts shadow over election

Anil Netto

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6 Mar 2008

1

The Election Commission’s decision not to use indelible ink just does not sound right. If they have nothing to hide, then there should be no hesitation in using such ink. It certainly doesn’t look good for the EC and the government, coming so close to polling day. How are you going to spot multiple voters?

This is a piece I wrote yesterday.

PENANG, Mar 5 (IPS) – Malaysia’s Election Commission (EC) has dramatically scrapped a plan to use indelible ink to prevent multiple voting and stop phantom voters, provoking a storm of protests among opposition parties, which were expecting to make major gains at the polls on Saturday.

The sudden reversal of the plan to use indelible ink has put the spotlight on the Malaysia’s electoral process. It comes as political analysts expect a growing number of urban voters to switch to the opposition this time.

The U-turn was announced Tuesday, just four days before polling day on March 8. The plan to use ink to block phantom voters and multiple voting was mooted in June. In February this year, the EC reportedly ordered 47,000 bottles of indelible black ink from India at a cost of over 2 million ringgit (630,000 US dollars). Full article

Jeyakumar vs Samy Vellu: Epic battle that’s too close to call

Anil Netto

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4 Mar 2008

6

If there is one electoral contest that epitomises GE 2008, it has got to be the epic battle of Sungai Siput.

A titanic contest is taking place between Samy Vellu and Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj of PSM, standing under a Keadilan ticket – and so far, it’s neck-and-neck. The scenario is more akin to 1999, when Kumar lost by a 5,259 majority rather than 2004, when Samy rode on the Pak Lah bandwagon to win by a 10,235-margin as the Chinese opposition votes were split between Kumar and the DAP candidate.

If in 1999, Kumar was David against Samy the Goliath – nine years later, Kumar’s stature has risen in Sg Siput and many residents now know the “doctor” as a familiar face.

Tonight Anwar is speaking at Karai in the heart of the Malay areas. When I contacted Kumar over the phone just now, he told me some 2,000 people had turned up, about 80 per cent of them Malay.

The ethnic breakdown in Sg Siput is 31 per cent Malay, 41 per cent Chinese, 23 per cent Indian and 5 per cent others.

Yesterday, I followed Jeyakumar on the campaign trail to experience first-hand voter sentiment on the ground – in the kampongs, low-cost housing estates and markets around Sg Siput.

He received a mixed reception. A few punched their fists in the air in support, others shook hands with him warmly, some were lukewarm or apathetic while a few were plain cold. Kumar even reached out to shake hands with a few MIC party workers, a couple of whom appeared agitated, while other MIC supporters, a little taken aback, shook hands more cordially.

One of the major issues here is the Barang Naik syndrome and oil prices – the inflationary spiral which is hurting the lower-income group of all ethnic groups. Stepping down from the back of his small lorry, travelling in a convoy with half a dozen cars, Kumar explains over the mike to anyone who cares to listen that only a small group at the top have benefited most from economic growth. Many others continue to suffer hardship. “If you are satisfied with the economy and the country, then vote for BN. Otherwise, vote for the opposition,” he urges.

Sungai Siput is plastered with pictures of Samy – though Kumar’s posters are now noticeable. The Pas boys have helped to put up Keadilan flags all over the Malay kampongs though of course the BN presence is everywhere. In town, large bill boards feature Samy and Abdullah Badawi standing side by side – not too close – each with their palms held together below in front of them, almost as if they were part of a “wall” anticipating a David Beckham free kick.

It’s Kumar’s third time against Samy Vellu, who will turn 72 on polling day. The soft-spoken respiratory physician has put together an amazing support team. Their operations centre is a hive of activity: young activists checking computers, preparing the days’ schedule, others looking after the catering of food for party workers, folding pamphlets and slipping posters into plastic covering sheets.

Most of the party workers are largely from the Indian Malaysian grassroots including estate workers; others are retired folk. Also present were Chinese Malaysians lending moral support and younger activists from out of town. Even a couple of Orang Asli have turned up.

Some come from far and wide; they are all determined and motivated. The Hindraf activists and supporters are expected to converge there soon. Even last night, when there was no ceramah near the operations centre, some 200 people turned up just to soak up the excitement and mingle with the rest of Kumar’s supporters. In contrast, the MIC operations rooms I spotted (they have more than one, I gather) looked somewhat quiet.

At the last general election, Kumar polled about 35 per cent of the Indian vote. This time, they hope to receive 60 per cent of the Indian vote. I suspect they are hoping for around 35-40 per cent of the Malay vote while it is the Chinese votes that appear to be the most uncertain.

Unlike elsewhere, where many Indians have rejected Samy Vellu, many of the Indian Malaysians in Sg Siput face an internal dilemma. They may respect Kumar for his commitment and dedication but some feel Samy Vellu has been around a long time and he has given them some infrastructure and dealt with some of their problems. If Samy is dumped, will Sg Siput be punished and lose its considerable development funds, they worry?

Over the years, Samy Vellu has brought in quite a bit of development funds for Sg Siput. Obviously, money is not a problem. Wide highways, which are amazingly (for Samy) toll free(!), stretch all the way from Kuala Kangsar to Jelapang via Sg Siput.

When I arrived at Kumar’s operations centre yesterday morning, I found Kumar’s party workers removing a long row of Keadilan flags which they earlier had put up on the road divider of the high street facing their markas. “The BN or the local government in Sg Siput now wants to put up street lights or a divider barrier in the middle of the road,” one of them lamented. Nice timing, eh?

Not to be deterred, the party workers transferred their flags to the road side, this time attaching the DAP’s Rocket flag on the same bamboo pole as the Keadilan flags. A few PSM flags fluttered high above the trees facing the operations centre. Outside the centre, the BN has its own open space next to the PSM’s area. Here the BN (or is it the Information Ministry?) sometimes organises loud concerts, which drown out the proceedings in Kumar’s area. One of Kumar’s party workers told me the crowds at these concerts are much smaller than in previous elections – only about a hundred and dwindling now, compared to a couple of thousand in previous election campaigns. Another telling indicator…

Seat negotiations between the DAP and PSM/Keadilan were particularly tough, but in the end, some sort of agreement was struck.

Last night, I dropped by to find out how the DAP candidate for the Jalong state seat nearby was faring.

Now, Leong Mee Meng, a beautician, is another one of the DAP’s ‘cili padi‘ – and clearly, she is a crowd-puller. Speaking from the corridor of a row of shop-houses, right in the middle of Jalong, close to the Gerakan and MCA offices, Leong addressed a crowd of about 4,000 stretching down the road. She spoke about ‘new politics’, Chinese schools and the inequalities in Malaysian society.

A skilled orator, she switched with ease between Mandarin and Cantonese, and used sweeping dramatic hand gestures to impressive effect. She had the crowd mesmerised.

Update from Penang:

Malaysia Today’s Raja Petra has apparently been barred from speaking on Penang Island but is allowed to speak on the mainland. This is not going to go down well with islanders, who are already swinging to the opposition in many areas, determined to teach the BN a lesson.

Some 900 people turned up at an opposition ceramah in Lengkok Bangkok tonight while another 400 are now in Brown Garden attending another ceramah there.

Meanwhile, Gerakan is believed to be facing some internal turbulence over the succession brouhaha for the chief minister’s post. Koh Tsu Koon is being seen as indecisive, while Teng Hock Nan is said to be none too thrilled about what has happened.