Check Mate

I am not good at chess partly because I don’t have the capacity to think too far ahead. I cannot see too many steps ahead. However, if I launch an attack, I expect to win or at least take some guys out.

The last 2 weeks we see PM Abdullah insist on his candidate Datuk Idris Jusoh over the royal preference of Ahmad Said. That he insisted and said that the Sultan of Terengganu’s appointee of Menteri Besar to Terengganu is unconstitutional is equivalent to launching an attack and confrontation with the palace. Any person with some stuff between the ears knows that unless you truly expect to win or have something very good up your sleeve; don’t engage in a zero sum game with the royal house.

The PM did and we all thought, maybe he had some “files” on the royal house (Tun Mahahthir’s style) and that is why he was so bold as to challenge the Sultan’s council. Little did we know that after the meeting with The Sultan; and His Royal Highness insisted on YB Ahmad as the MB, the PM simply retreated.

The question that is left in my mind is why in the world did Pak Lah challenge the Royal Palace in the first place and why did he insist on Idris Jusoh if he didn’t think he was going to stand up to the Sultan. He could have met privately with the Sultan first and then come out publicly with the sultan’s choice and the public will have been none the wiser.

As a result....last nights press conference with the tail between his legs.....so to speak.
The newspaper comes out to spin "BN has decided"...(to accept the Sultan's apointee) Lucky for the sultan :>

The Perfect Storm

Online newsportal, Malaysiakini's Steven Gan called it the perfect storm wherein all the forces came together at the right time and the right moment. Mahathir said there were push factors and pull factors. Neverthless this 12th General Elections in Malaysia can easily be likened to Phlippines “people power”. This is evident especially after the results were announced when a majority of Malaysians were patting each other on the back and congratulating each other. Even the owner of the Dim Sum shop I frequent on Sunday mornings told me how elated he was.

The people’s anger arose mainly because of being hard pressed and their businesses affected either because of increase in prices or because of the difficulty in doing business due to corruption. There was the hindu aggravation leading to HINDRAF’s rally. The unhappiness over the electoral process culminating in BERSIH’s 50,000 march in Kuala Lumpur. A former Gerakan loyalist told me, he was so angry when he put his “X” on the ballot paper the pencil nib broke and his hands were shaking. This is just an example of the emotion felt by the rakyat.

In short notice, thousands all over Malaysia volunteered as polling agents and counting agents for the opposition groups. Thousands of ringgit flowed into their coffers and suddenly it became clear change was not too far off.

External factors were the global slowdown and inflationary pressures due to escalating oil prices and global stock market turning bearish. The grand old man Mahathir could also be considered an external factor since he remained a thorn in the side of Pak Lah. Months before the GE, the Lingam case exploded which did not impress the public at all.

Internal push factors is of course the flip flop Prime Minister who does little to promote Malaysia in the international arena. His gaffs, his sleeping habits and his overall lack of leadership skills was bare for all to see. It was a major disappointment after 2004 when he retained many of the “expired” ministers from the Mahathir era.
There was also a sign of internal squabbling in the various components of BN leading to one senior minister being caught in a sensational sex scandal.

All these factors led to…..the perfect storm.

It would be good for the opposition if Pak Lah continues to stay as then winning over the Federal government would be much easier. Whatever brilliant ideas he has, he would have used it and we would have seen it.

A day to remember in the history of Malaysia

5 states in opposition hands : Penang, Kedah, Kelantan Perak and Selangor
82 seats in Parliament : 23 seats PAS. 28 seats DAP and 31 seats PKR
No longer can race be used as an issue - I hope we are on the way to burying race based politics forever!

A New Dawn for Malaysia -

My fellow Malaysians,

Today at the ballot box, you listened to your heart with the firm conviction that the time for change has arrived.
The people of Malaysia have spoken. This is a defining moment, unprecedented in our nation’s history.
Today a new chapter has opened. The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognize that all Malaysians, regardless of race, culture and religion are a nation of one.
The people have expressed in no uncertain terms that they want accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
Today unity, consensus, and mutual respect triumphed.
Tomorrow, we start working to build a brighter future, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. This is a new dawn for Malaysia.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

The people have spoken

At 11;45 pm - Penang and Kedah is confirmed to have fallen into opposition hands. Perlis and terengganu hangs in the balance.

Samy and Zam, 2 ministers who have passed their useful shelf life is gone and for Samy this is his Birthday present from the Rakyat!!

I am especially happy for Nik Nazmi, Guoben and Hannah in Kelana. Well done guys!!

"change your lifestyle" - Ha easy to say!

Bersih slams Najib's jet campaign trips
Azreen Madzlan Mar 7, 08 12:36pm ,
Malaysiakini
Polls reform group Bersih has criticised Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak for making use of a government Fokker executive jet during the campaign period.
Last Tuesday, New Straits Times featured a photograph of Najib taking a nap with her daughter in the plane while on the way to campaign in Kelantan.
Bersih committee member and PKR candidate for the Batu parliamentary seat Tian Chua said it is illegal for Najib to use the jet for campaigning because the Fokker belongs to the government.

This is the kind of arrogance that the Rakyat are fed up with. Bad enough using government facilities for political purpose, but during the campaign period just shows a total disrespect for the EC, for the election process and the rakyat.

Nicely cuddling in with his daughter on a jet on UMNO business is hardly acceptable. I hope the people of Kelantan and the whole Malaysia rise up against this kind of arrogance.

It is this man who tells the rakyat to "change our lifestyle." Obviously he has lost touch with the rakyat's plight and pain. Very sad indeed that such a man can become a leader of the malay people and of Malaysia. If this is the future of Malaysia then we are to be in mourning now.

My first for a friend

My first Ceramah at Kelana Glomac...for a friend:

Nik Nazmi.
http://www.niknazmi.com/wordpress/




He's one of the good guys! He's humble, smart and hard working.







"Come out on March 8th and VOTE for Nik Nazmi and for Malaysia's future!"

Hannah Yeoh for Subang Jaya: Let's hop onto the right bus....

A rocket for all Malaysians not just one Malaysian! Well said Hannah:

Hannah Yeoh for Subang Jaya: Let's hop onto the right bus....