Indian voters in Bagan Pinang should support BN

Human Rights Party secretary-general P. Uthayakumar was asking Indian voters to abstain from voting in Bagan Pinang by-election.

Ironically, democracy is a system of government in which the actual governing is carried out by the people governed, or the power to do so is granted by them.

Voting is an important part of the formal democratic process and political and democratic right of the voters.

Obviously, not all Indian support Hindraf. Indian can no longer be denied their political and democratic right. In fact, they should have the right to freely choose their political status.

By abstain from voting in Bagan Pinang by-election; it’s just like putting Indian down and taking them out of practical politics.

The success Story of India in Malaysia under BN government is certainly quite undeniable.

There are so many successful Indian lawyers and doctors, professional as well as high ranking government servant in Malaysia, thus it's completely illogical that much Indian blames the government.

Undeniably, the BN government is taking very good care of Indian right. In April 1992, the BN government had offered 9 million Telekom shares to Maika Holdings Berhad, the investment arm of MIC. It was established in 1982 purportedly to enable Indian Malaysians to share in the country’s economy growth.

Unfortunately, in April 1992, it was discovered that Maika Holdings involved in a 9 million Telekom shares scandal.

It's no reason for Indian to get angry with BN. Shouldn’t MIC shoulder all the blame for the failure?

The question arises: How far should Indian be expected to follow P. Uthayakumar in abstain from voting in Bagan Pinang by-election?

BN vs PAS in Bagan Pinang

In politics, there is no mercy.

Ironically, it is generally believed that it is the best chance now for BN to end the opposition's winning streak by fielding Mohd Isa Abdul Samad in Bagan Pinang by-election.

Mohd Isa Abdul Samad vs Zulkefly Mohamad Omar

By picking Isa, who is popular with the grassroots, Umno is seen as riding roughshod over the voter’s sentiment. The high level of Malay support and large number of postal votes for Isa are the main factors that will cause Umno to win the race after losing 7 by-elections.

The Bagan Pinang state by-election on Oct 11 will see a straight fight between Barisan BN and PAS. BN is fielding former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad while PAS is represented by Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, the party's state commissioner.

Returning Officer Abdul Wahab Shamsuddin announced the contest at 11.25am after the objection period had ended.

Mohd Isa, 59, was the first to arrive at the nomination centre at Port Dickson Municipal Council hall at 9.05am, naming N. Kandiah as the proposer and Kaw Yoh See as the seconder.

About 10 minutes later, Zulkefly filed in his nomination papers, with Baharom Bujang as the proposer and Sarif Kasim as the seconder.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent assemblyman Azman Mohammad Noor of BN on Sept 4. In the 2008 general election, Azman defeated PAS' Ramli Ismail with a majority of 2,333 votes.

There are 13,664 registered voters in Bagan Pinang, including 4,604 postal voters in the constituency. Malays make up about 62 per cent voters while Indians and Chinese 20 and 10 per cent respectively.

It has eight polling districts namely Pekan Siliau, Teluk Kemang, Ladang Atherton, Ladang Bradwall, Kampung Bagan Pinang, Taman Eastern, Sua Betong and Si Rusa.

No chance for PAS to defeat Isa Samad

UMNO fielded its former former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Isa Samad while PAS named Negri Sembilan state commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar for the Bagan Pinang.

Isa Samad

PAS would have no chance to defeat former UMNO vice-president Isa Samad. With the existing of 4,604 postal voters in the constituency, he will claim a completely one-sided fight anyone has ever seen and get a big win in the forthcoming Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan.


Zulkefly

Ironically, the support for BN has increased now compared with the 2008 general election. It shall demonstrates the strong grassroots support for Isa Samad who was Negeri Sembilan MB for more than two decades, and the heavy campaigning to be undertaken by the BN.

The late Umno's Azman Mohd Noor, 55, defeated PAS’s Ramli Ismail with a 2,333-vote majority in the last general election. There are 13,644 registered voters, including 4,604 postal voters in the constituency.

Isa, 59, former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar has been Teluk Kemang Umno chief since 1982. He began his political career in 1978 when he won the Linggi state seat, which he held till 2004.

He contested and won Jempol parliamentary seat in the 2004 general election and was subsequently made the Federal Territories Minister before stepping down in 2005.

He steadily rose up the ranks culminating in his being appointed Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar following the general election of 1982.

Zulkefly, 45, is a businessman who holds a masters degree in science and has six children.

His claim to fame includes successfully leading the Broga No-Incinerator Committee, which managed to pressure the government to scrap the construction of a 'mega-incinerator'.

He has contested in three elections since 1999 but lost by a 1,285 majority in his 2008 foray in the Lenggeng state seat.

Isa is BN’s right candidate for Bagan Pinang

BN election director Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Umno fields its former vice-president Tan Sri Isa Samad as the candidate in the forthcoming Bagan Pinang by-election in Negeri Sembilan.

Muhyiddin said, this by-election is about the people, people first, whoever the people want, we will grant the people their wish.”

It is claimed that the former Mentri Besar being able to unite the people in Bagan Pinang as the constituents, including the non-Malays accepted him.

Ironically, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Although one man's meat is another man's poison, but Wise men always think alike, so Isa is being seen as the right candidate for Bagan Pinang.

It is believed that he will win many more votes than former BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor.

Politically, Isa’s selection today is seen to be his second attempt in making a comeback after failing to defend the Umno vice-president post during the party election last April.

The Bagan Pinang by-election was made following the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4. In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS by some 2,000 votes.

Erosion of support for PAS

Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali's controversial statements on the state government's Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) has been seen as out of line with the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat.

Hasan Mohamed Ali

He repeatedly makes comments that undermine Pakatan and the party was ready to pull out of PR in Selangor if all its elected representatives agreed.

The proposal for restrictions on the sale of alcohol in Selangor and the stand over issues concerning the donation of sacrificial cows, purchased by Selangor State Development Corporation companies, to mosques in the Bandar Tun Razak constituency, had been seen as attempting to undermine the cohesiveness of the Selangor PR government.

After the opposition won Selangor in the 2008 general election, Hasan had reportedly discussed the possibility of a pact with the BN's Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, the former Selangor Menteri Besar.

Clearly, such decisions have been seen as to help Umno to stage a Perak-like coup d'état.

If no measures have been taken by opposition, surely Selangor will be back in BN's fold and PAS can be assured of the erosion of support in the next election.

Is EGM a zero-sum game for Ong Tee Keat?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said, the MCA’s EGM is aimed at solving woes besieging the MCA, and not meant to rekindle issues; to solve the party’s internal crisis, and not destroy the party.

MCA will hold an EGM on Oct 10 at 10 am in the wake of the expulsion of its deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek by the presidential council for tarnishing the party's image over a sex video scandal.

The winner takes it all and the loser has to fall

Dramatically, just at last when the MCA seemed all set to hold its EGM, in the wake of the expulsion of Dr Chua, the party central committee decided to suspend him for four years with immediate effect, revising the presidential council’s decision on Aug 26 of sacking him.

One wonders what will happen, should MCA truly concerned about the party's image over a sex video scandal, the party should have question who the culprits are behind the sex video scandal and serious action be taken against them for well planned tarnishing MCA's image.

Strategically, the sex video scandal is an immoral way of MCA to topple democratically elected Dr Chua. It’s a dirty war against the political rival by becoming prick master in planning and shooting the sex video.

By far, it is not only a dirty trick, but instead illegal and immoral method of removing rivals by invading personal privacy.

Typically, it is an accepted norm as well as social categories in Chinese society that the able man has an official wife and one or more concubines.

Why accepted norms are sometimes abandoned in favor of contradictory norms especially political interest of the unable party leader?

Ironically, the predomination of the politics of survival forced rival to become involved in calling the EGM. Politically, the leaders of MCA should have been battled it out in a respected professional way.

Today, most of the MCA members are aware that MCA should be the only party fighting to safeguard their political interest as what UMNO is for the Malay in the BN. How can MCA justify it?

Failing this, most of the MCA members think that it would be better; both for the future of MCA as well as the Chinese, MCA members should be looking for a different kind of leader that shall deliver the goods rather than personal benefit to remain as the president.

Politically, many foresee EGM is more or less a zero-sum game for MCA. The winner takes it all and the loser has to fall.

The question remains: Can MCA regained its strength and emerges stronger after EGM?

Selamat Hari Raya

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