Time Magazine with PMX on Pas,Najib,Umno & his legacy...

Time - Malaysia is a rare example of a democratic Muslim-majority country. But Malay-Islamist supremacist rhetoric is on the rise. How do you plan to combat it?

DSAI - First, economic development. A more just, equitable system so that no community or part of the country is seen to be ignored or marginalized. Second, of course, is education, because extremism, racism, religious bigotry, breed easily among the more ignorant segment of the population. When I say ignorant, I don’t mean you’re not qualified, you don’t go to university. I mean the lack of understanding of the total message of a religion dependent on some of the mullahs and sheiks, with their very narrow, obscure interpretation. Third, to make them realize that Malaysia, although it is a predominately Muslim country, is a multiracial country. And we have survived hundreds of years with the presence of Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians. There is no reason why you should upset this and cause enmity.

Have you ever considered asking PAS to come on board, because your government is a coalition government?

On whether we are prepared to engage with them, of course we do. We must. And I’ve sent [an invitation] to them ... Yes, I have been open to the idea from the beginning. After all, this is a unity government and we do what is best for our country. But of course, we are going to draw a line. Islam is the religion of the Federation [of Malaysia], but this is a multireligious country and I want every single citizen in this country, of all religious persuasions, to know that they have a place in this country.

What has PAS's response been?

There has not been a clear rejection nor a positive response. The political climate is still a bit heated, so we’ll let it cool off for some time. 

OK, so is it possible at some point?

I don’t want to preclude that. Of course, contingent upon these major policy conditions being accepted.

You cannot achieve all the reformasi—whatever you thought about it back then—in one year or in the next few years. So if you were to prioritize two or three things, what would they be? 

Governance. I mean, in this country, the plundering was a mess and corruption is systemic. And if you stop that, it is a major success story. Not a single tender in the past nine months has been awarded through a negotiated process. There is [now] a proper tender, a transparent system. This is a major departure from the corrupt practices of the past. In Parliament, we have formed umpteen select committees. They can summon ministers and civil servants, question them. In the judiciary, there is not one case of appointments or decisions that I’ve interfered with.

Your coalition partner UMNO’s stated demand is to have a pardon for Najib. You would be one of the members of the pardoning board if it ever came to that. How would you treat it?

As I’ve said publicly, our system in the pardoning board is a process. It is the sole discretion of King [Yang di-Pertuan Agong]. 

But on your advice?

There are a few issues that the King may not seek the advice of the Prime Minister—on the issue of pardons, on the issue of investiture, and some issues pertaining to Islam and Malay customs. I trust the wisdom of the King to protect the Constitution. 

So you would be impartial to it?

I mean, every single convicted person has a right to submit his or her appeal to the pardons board. And it is the duty of the pardons board to consider each case professionally. That’s all that we will do. And each member will give their views to the King. The King has a final say. Of course, they say the King can act on the advice of the Prime Minister. But unlike normal government duties, this advice has its limit, because the King has discretion, as I said. 

I get that. But if the case came to you tomorrow, what would you do?

I will think about it.

Statesmen and leaders think about legacy. What would you want yours to be as Prime Minister?

Sounds like you are asking me to retire early? I would say this: this man from the village who came up, suffered in the process, and really wanted to do his best for his people and his country. That’s it.

That is a very diplomatic answer.

No, no, it’s not. I just want them to remember, here is Anwar, who is probably crazy in many ways, fought hard, suffered immensely in the process, but he really meant well. There’s an honest answer.

Do you have any regrets?

Hmm, Frank Sinatra, “My Way.” Yes, regrets, I have a few. I should probably have been a bit more patient, a bit wiser. But no one in their younger days was patient and wise. - Debasish Roy Chowdhury,Times MagazineTimes Magazine

I laud Anwar's preparedness to accept PAS...

I had not wanted to say anything in regard to Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim’s statement during his interview with Time magazine that he does not rule out PAS joining the coalition government if policy conditions are accepted.

However, a letter writer in Malaysiakini said this was not a new proposal as I had made it in May, when I said I had “fallen into the realms of hypocrisy and desperation, sacrificing principles for surface-level stability”. This was not so.

In my statement on May 29, 2023, I mentioned that I personally support the idea of PAS being part of the Anwar coalition government although I had not discussed it with DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke or any other DAP leaders, but PAS must demonstrate a change of attitude to show that it supports the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s call for political stability and national unity in Malaysia.

For a start, I asked, was Hadi prepared to retract and apologise for the numerous wild and preposterous allegations he had made against the DAP and me?

Secondly, would PAS MPs show that they would stop playing up race and religious issues and be model MPs who support political stability and national unity?

Thirdly, would PAS support the objective to make Malaysia the role model for the world for inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and harmony?

The results of the six state general elections, the two by-elections of Pulai and Simpang Jeram in Johor and Pelangai by-election in Pahang, have stabilised the political situation in Malaysia for the next four years and given hope that Malaysia can rise up again to be a great world-class nation. - Lim Kit Siang

cheers.

PM Anwar tables record RM393.8 billion budget...

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Oct 13) tabled the country’s largest-ever budget, as he made a further push for a shift from the current blanket subsidies to a more targeted approach aimed at giving more to the truly needy.

Among the measures announced included an increase to the Sales and Services Tax (SST) from six per cent to eight per cent, though it will not include food and beverages or telecommunications.

A capital gains tax on unlisted shares will also be introduced at a rate of 10 per cent from March 1 next year. Separately, a high-value goods tax of five to 10 per cent on items such as jewellery and watches will also be introduced, he said.

The expansionary 2024 budget of RM393.8 billion (US$83.29 billion) surpasses the RM388.1 billion unveiled for the 2023 budget in February this year, the largest then. The 2024 budget, which was keenly anticipated as the first under Mr Anwar to bear his imprint since he took office in November last year, marks a return to the regular year-end budget announcement cycle.

Mr Anwar, who is also the country’s finance minister, announced that RM303.8 billion - about 77 per cent of the RM393.8 billion budget next year - will be allocated for operating expenditure while RM90 billion is for development expenditure. In his speech, Mr Anwar stressed that only by reducing the country’s deficit and liabilities that the government is able to restore its sustainable fiscal position.

Targeting the subsidies... 

Mr Anwar also took aim at Malaysia’s broad subsidies, saying that such subsidies have benefited the rich. “Economic policy should be directed towards economic growth and equality. However, what has happened is that the amount of subsidies (given out) has benefited the rich.

“It is hoped that by improving and plugging the leakages in the subsidy system, that the proceeds could be passed on to the public, including wage increments for the working class,” said Mr Anwar.

He added that the targeted approach to the subsidies will begin next year.“Thus, from next year, a targeted approach to the subsidies will be implemented in phases.

"If it is true that we can save on the subsidy spending, then I guarantee that God willing we will increase the allocation of cash assistance through the Rahmah Cash Contribution (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) from the current RM8 billion to RM10 billion for almost 9 million residents,” said Mr Anwar, who noted that subsidy cuts are largely on fuel and electricity.

Diesel subsidies, will however, still be enjoyed by certain groups of consumers, such as logistics companies, he said. “With this approach, this will reduce subsidy leakages, and at the same time, reduce the impact on the price of daily goods for the people.”

The targeted approach to electricity subsidies implemented this year - where subsidies for the top 10 per cent of those with the highest electricity consumption was released - has allowed the government to save more than RM4.6 billion, said Mr Anwar.

Chicken & Eggs...

Mr Anwar also said that the government will be waiving the temporary price ceiling that has been imposed on the sale of chickens and eggs, noting that the supply of the goods has thus far stabilised in the country.

On Feb 5 last year, Malaysia introduced a price ceiling on chickens and eggs to prevent price hikes caused by a supply shortage of the products. The price of chickens at the time skyrocketed due to the costs of breeding them, as the price of chicken feed, which is imported, increased month by month.

Among a slew of other announcements, Mr Anwar said that there will be a Malaysia Visa Liberalisation Plan that includes a relaxation of conditions for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, though he did not elaborate. The MM2H programme, introduced in 2002, is a long-term visa scheme for foreigners to purchase property and reside in Malaysia.

On the electric vehicles (EV) industry front, Mr Anwar said that the Malaysian government welcomed investments worth RM170 million from established companies to build 180 EV charging stations in the country. There will also be an EV motorcycle scheme with rebates of up to RM2,400 for the buyer - applicable to those who earn RM120,000 and below.

And on the transportation infrastructure front, Mr Anwar announced that a project to widen the North-South Expressway in Johor will come at a cost of RM931 million. Mr Anwar also announced 33 high-priority flood mitigation projects across various states in the country at a cost of RM11.8 billion.

Earlier this year, after visiting a flood relief centre in Johor, Mr Anwar said: “If we don’t do anything serious to address this (flood) issue, it will happen again. This is not the first time, and it has been going on for years and sometimes twice a year.”

Mr Anwar said that this year’s budget - themed “Reformasi Ekonomi, Memperkasa Rakyat” or “Economic Reform, Empowering the People” - is a reflection of the unity government’s determination to uplift the national economy and the people’s well-being.

He added that the unity government was confident of reaching its 2024 economic growth target of close to 5 per cent. According to the Malaysian finance ministry’s economic outlook report made available on Friday, the country’s economy is expected to grow just 4.0 per cent this year. Against the backdrop of a lacklustre global economic recovery, analysts have predicted that the budget for the coming year would include “feel-good measures”, according to the New Straits Times.

Economists were also expecting Mr Anwar to announce steps to implement the capital gains and luxury taxes proposed in the previous budget in order to broaden the revenue base, with some predicting an introduction of the Goods & Services Tax (GST) from late 2024 or early 2025, Reuters reported.

Mr Anwar was also expected to announce details on subsidy rationalisation to better help those in the lower-income group. He had earlier told CNA in an interview that the current subsidy programme that ran up to US$17 billion last year is plagued by leakage and wastage and is not sustainable.

Malaysia, with a debt of RM1.399 trillion at the end of 2022, saw its economic growth in the second quarter hit the lowest in nearly two years. The World Bank also recently revised Malaysia’s economic growth from 4.3 per cent to 3.9 per cent, sparking worries among economists that this will bode poorly for the local economy, according to local media.

In a bid to strengthen Malaysia’s economy, Mr Anwar has introduced economic plans like the Madani Economy Framework - which involves the comprehensive restructuring of the Malaysian economy - and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) which seeks to increase the manufacturing sector's value.

Mr Anwar, who began his budget speech on Friday at 4pm, wrapped it up under three hours. The budget statement will be debated at the policy level for eight days starting Oct 16, followed then by responses from the relevant ministries from Oct 30. - CNA

The government will also commit RM150 mil to local government offices across the nation to maintain and refurbish public toilets, thus further addressing essential facilities.However, not all schools enjoy this privilege just yet. Some schools are still having issues with their restrooms. A school girl asked the PM to help her school which did not get the new toilets. She wrote a heartfelt letter (below) to the PM stating that the facilities in her school are old and worn. There is a lack of restrooms for the students in her school as well. - focusM

cheers.

Belanjawan 2024,apa aku dapat?...

Setiap kali Belanjawan, ini soalan yang kita akan tanya. Apa kita akan dapat darinya? Dari Penjawat Awam ke Peniaga. Dari SME ke GLC. Dari yang dah bekeluarga ke yang bujang lagi. 

Belanjawan itu kita nilai, berapa banyak Kerajaan boleh bagi. Lagi banyak memberi, lagi power la Kerajaan ni. 

Bukan saja rakyat biasa, political circle juga sama. Apa pula projek yang ada untuk disapu jua… Kerajaan berganti Kerajaan. PM after PM. Mereka guna belanjawan untuk dapatkan undi. 

Bila tahu Kerajaan takde duit, ada PM yang terlebih bijak, mintak guna KWSP. Tak kisah la tak pernah dibuat orang, benarkan Rakyat keluar KWSP sampai 4 kali. Mintak rakyat guna duit sendiri. Tapi geng2 ni pulak merembat duit negara untuk Parti and keluarga sendiri. Antara mereka saja berjoli...

Selepas 65 tahun, negara kita sudah tenat. Hutang negara sudah capai RM1.5 trillion tahun ini. Sama dengan 80% KDNK negara. Rating biaya hutang kita jatuh mendadak kepada BBB- dari single A dulunya. 

Makanya, Belanjawan ini kita kena ubah cara. Tidak boleh lagi menekan Kerajaan untuk berbelanja sewenangnya. Kena push mereka cari duit pula. Jimat belanja dan tak senang lenang rompak hasil negara. 

Sudah kena strategik dalam guna duit kita. Kita juga kena ubah cara berfikir... Bukan lagi tanya “Apa aku dapat?” Soalan yang patut ditanya “Apa yang tinggal untuk anak cucu kita?”  Mampukah mereka nanti, bina negara sendiri bila kita tiada… - Liyana Marzuki

Rice shortage - cartels & politicians working hand-in-hand,what should the government do?...

It has become obvious that some hidden hands are involved in the rising cost of living, especially since the Madani government was formed.

Whereas in the past, cost of food only rose during festive seasons, now it has become almost a trend. First, there was a shortage of chicken eggs and prices of eggs shot up. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu was criticised.

Nothing that the minister who is better known as Mat Sabu did seems right with his critics. When he tried to source eggs from India, he was ostracised by some netizens. Even the government was accused by Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali of awarding the project of import eggs from India to businessman Deepak Jaikishan.

PMX the main target...

This was then followed by the shortage of sugar – and now – local rice. It did not take much guessing to suspect that some cartels are involved, perhaps alongside with politicians who are attempting to force Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX) to step down. Anwar has always been the main target of criticism.

Despite all the efforts that the PMX is doing to help the paddy farmers, they tend to turn against him when they are not benefiting from his efforts. Any strategist would be able to tell you that in order to de-stabilise a government of the day, hit its food security first.

Ordinary people on the street will start to revolt when they are hungry – and a hungry and angry mob will inevitably try to overthrow any government.Therefore, if we are watchful enough, we will see the trend of the various food shortages happening one after another today instead of being gullible to the lies and propaganda that the Madani government has failed to address the shortages.

Instead, we see how the various ministries are working hard to jointly solve the issues of national food security. While the special task force raids on rice mills allegedly hoarding the local rice, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry works at the distribution channel to ensure that the people get the supply of rice.

Paddy farmers are astute...

Malaysiakini has reported that it did not take very long for the paddy farmers in Kedah to realise that “the steep drop in the price that manufacturers are buying paddy from them (may allegedly) be due to manipulation.That is only an allegation but unless the evidence is there to substantiate the suspicion, anyone could be accused of rumour-mongering or even been sued for defamation.

Thankfully, immediately after Pertubuhan Persaudaran Pesawah Malaysia – the NGO representing these paddy farmers – highlighted their plight, the Op BPT (local white rice) task force led by Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chang Foong Hin to investigate rice shortage has confiscated some 180 metric tonnes of local white rice estimated to be worth RM405,000 in an unlicensed warehouse.

This is probably only the tip of the iceberg. The Op BPT special task force which comprises the police, and officers from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS) depends on tips provided by whistleblowers.

Will Sanusi sue MACC?...

The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has also claimed that it has uncovered what Free Malaysia Today reported, as “a fraudulent scheme involving a rice supply company in Kedah which has disrupted the distribution and sale of the nation’s staple food”.

However, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has since claimed that it was an old piece of news dated back in 2016 and warned individuals and entities not to accuse the said state government-linked company (GLC) of any involvement in a RM100 mil rice supply scam.This is something to be watched closely whether MACC would be sued for making such a claim unless it is able to substantiate with evidence.

If the trend is allowed to continue where cartels working closely with hidden hands to bring about food shortages in the county, this threat to food security alone will eventually destroy the country. It is the rakyat that will suffer.

At the end of the day, what the Madani government is seeking to do for the people will not be appreciated. Instead, the people become incensed by the Opposition to topple the government. This is how propaganda works to exploit the lack of official communication from the government.

The mastermind behind the cartels must be identified along with their operatives and brought to face the charges for all the woes that they inflict on the people. There is no mercy for these cartel leaders – whether politicians or businessmen – who show no concern about the plight of the lower- and middle-income groups. – FocusM

"If you panaih, please don't koyak."...

Tekanan perasaan dah mamat ni. Banyak juga aku baca berita tentang penipuan pembelian beras tu. Tapi tak nampak pula sesiapa cuba kaitkan Sanusi. Kalau ada pun nada bergurau. Itu pun posting dari netizen, bukan portal berita.Takkan bergurau pun nak koyak? Dulu bukan dia ke yang kata nak masuk politik ni hati jangan tisu. Tapi dia sendiri hati tisu. Tisu jamban lak tu. Jenis kena air sikit je dah hancur.

Dalam posting SPRM jelas tulis yang terlibat tu ahli lembaga pengarah syarikat milik negeri Kedah. Tak ada pun tulis MB Kedah terlibat. Kes sorok beras pun sama. Tak ada pun yang kata kilang tu Sanusi punya. Tiba-tiba dia panik sangat ni dah kenapa? Musykil juga aku.Cuma kita persoalkan je la. Kalau salah kerajaan pusat tu laju je dia nampak. Yang tak ada pun dia boleh ada adakan. Tapi yang berlaku dalam negeri sendiri dia tak perasan pula.

Lagi pun, Sanusi kan biasa tuduh tanpa bukti dan reka cerita. Contohnya macam insiden DS Anwar langgar Elizabeth Tan. Sanusi tuduh insiden tu dirancang sebab nak tutup cerita DS Anwar suka lelaki. Tak ingat?Itu tuduhan yang jelas, terang dan direct terhadap DS Anwar. Dah jadi fitnah pun. Masa dia kata orang sedap je. Dia reka fitnah, tak fikir. Kena dekat dia terus menggelupur.

Bukan tu je. Banyak lagi cerita yang Sanusi reka. Kemudian cerita tu diulang-ulang oleh para walaun. Tak ada rasa bersalah pun. Tiba kena dekat dia, dia punya koyak tak boleh cerita.

Itu la. Lain kali jangan sedap sangat cerita pasal orang. Kalau dah buat kat orang tu, jangan cepat koyak bila sendiri kena. If you panaih, please don't koyak. Guane boh? - Raja Gelap II 

Bersatu MP declares support for Anwar

cheers.

Its not the numbers,but the quality of leaders PMX chooses...

Will it be a ‘competent’ reshuffle?...

There are swirling rumours that the prime minister will initiate a cabinet reshuffle. The media is awash with speculation about who will be in, and which underperformer will be dropped. The unity government is 11 months old. So much has already been said and written about the effectiveness, or rather lack of it, with regard to our current crop of ministers.We need ministers with skills, experience, and knowledge who perform their duties efficiently and who are committed to principled leadership. 

So, if the PM decides to jettison the deadbeat ministers in his cabinet, it will be a welcome relief.Unfortunately, the precarious situation our Prime Minister is in dictates that rather than bringing in competent and effective people into his cabinet, he is most likely going to carry on “pandering” to the odd political landscape that he finds himself in.

Speculation is that political horse-trading is on-going and compromises have been struck for cabinet positions. Although by all accounts, these potential ministerial candidates are not those chosen by the “rakyat.” Instead, they are from political parties, who scarcely represent the will of the people.

Ultimately, it seems like this potential cabinet reshuffle will not be about “competent” ministers, but rather, it will be about finding compromises to appease political players. This exercise will most likely be only about keeping the unity government in power for the next four years. It has nothing to do with the wellbeing of the nation.

The Malaysian people need ministers with a combination of training, skills, experience, and knowledge that allows them to function effectively, and perform their duties efficiently. We need them to have an unstinting passion for the country; for public service; and to be committed to principled leadership.But this is wishful thinking!

I am a Malaysian of Indian origin. And often, I lament about the lack of representation for large sections of the community. As much as there are success stories with pockets of Indians in our country being competent professionals, as a whole, the community still lags way behind in economic development. Who is there to safeguard the rights of these marginalised Indians?

It is certainly not by selecting politically expedient individuals, and plonking them into the cabinet. Having an incompetent Malaysian Indian in a cabinet position is not the answer. As a Malaysian first, I would rather have a competent non-Indian representing my community’s plight, than having an incompetent Malaysian Indian in that position, whose sole aim is to enrich himself and his cronies.

The same applies to my non-Indian countrymen and women. Isn’t it time to adopt the attitude that competent Malaysians, regardless of their race or religion should be appointed to the cabinet? The question for the Prime Minister is about how we can have a leadership team that is progressive and “fit for purpose,” as opposed to falling back on traditional race-based considerations.

The Malaysian cabinet must be one that has a strong work-ethic and is able to foster a dynamic work-culture. It has to be a connected and congruent team to ensure the country has a competitive edge. We need ministers who bring everyone together, and navigate the country correctly. Only when there is ministerial competency, can we expect a high standard of governance. But looking at the Malaysian cabinet, how many competent people can we see?

It should not be a cabinet filled with members who are there as a “reward” for loyalty or support. The Anwar Ibrahim-led coalition, after the last general election, did not secure a simple majority to form the government, although it was the single largest coalition block in parliament.

This means that the people who voted for this block, did so on the back of the promise of reforms. Currently, because of the volatile nature of this unity government, many of the promised reforms have been placed on the back-burner. And, some people would even say in the rubbish bin.

For the vast majority of voters who elected 81 members of parliament from the Pakatan Harapan coalition, the promised reforms are just not forthcoming. This is leading to a crisis with voters scratching their heads and wondering whether they made the right decision to cast their vote for PH.

If the prime minister, through a choice of sterling cabinet members, demonstrates to these voters that it was indeed the right choice to “punt” for him, it will go a long way to restore some faith in this unity government.

But if once again, the backdoor to the cabinet is opened through unelected senatorial appointments, and if ministerial portfolios are filled with “has-beens,” and corruption alleged politicians, PMX will clearly signal that integrity is not a matter that he is concerned with.What matters to him is to remain in power at any cost.

With a population of approximately 34 million, Malaysia currently has a 28-member cabinet. Paradoxically, our neighbour Indonesia, while making phenomenal strides in socio-economic development, has a population of almost 280 million, yet they have a cabinet of only 34 ministers. It is not the number of ministers that is important. It is the quality of the men and women in our cabinet. I say it again. Malaysia needs competent leaders. Period. - Shankar R. Santhiram

Stop talking about changing 

government any more...

BN’s candidate Amizar Abu Adam secured 7,324 votes in last weekend’s Pelangai by-election, beating PAS’ Kasim Samat with a convincing 2,949-vote majority, successfully keeping the “green wave” in check and helping BN retain the state seat.

Pelangai has always been a BN stronghold. Even with the “green wave” ravaging much of the peninsula in last year’s general election, BN’s candidate Johari Harun managed to win with an impressive majority of 4,048 votes in a four-cornered fight. That said, given PN’s strong showing in the six state elections two months back, it was generally believed that BN would still have an upper hand in Pelangai, although PN still stood a chance.

Although PN was defeated in the twin elections in Johor last month, the coalition managed to gain some new footing, and it was believed that PN would gain some forward thrust if it were to perform well in Pelangai. But at the same time, the Unity Government, in particular Umno, also needed a convincing victory to boost its depressed morale while stopping any further drain of Malay votes.

While on the surface, last weekend’s election was only a by-election for a Pahang state constituency, and the results would not affect the state administration in any way. However, from the macroscopic point of view, this by-election will offer a glimpse into how the so-called “green wave” is trending, and how solid is the collaboration between PH and BN, as well as Umno’s strength.

With the BN candidate now winning Pelangai, we can safely conclude that the “green wave” has failed to make further advances. As a matter of fact, the results of the by-elections in Johor already demonstrated that the “green wave” was ebbing, and with further retreat in a predominantly Malay constituency in Pelangai (with 73% Malay, 18% Chinese, 6% Indian and 3% other voters), this shows that Umno is able to hold on to its Malay vote bank.

Nonetheless, PH and BN must not become complacent by the sweet taste of success, as PN has indeed gained some votes while BN has seen its majority thinned by over a thousand votes.Despite the defeat, PN’s performance has been impressive. Pahang PN chairman Saifuddin Abdullah said PN had made significant headway in Felda settlements and had won more Malay votes in general, which is a hard fact, although the gain was not big enough for the coalition to wrestle Pelangai.

This is indeed where the PN bottleneck lies. Although exploiting sensitive racial and religious issues can earn the coalition some voter support and shore up its fundamental base, the same will also “scare away” other voters. We cannot rule out the possibility that some voters have turned to BN because they cannot accept PN’s ultra-conservative approach.

The by-election results also show that the cooperation between PH and BN is increasingly acceptable to the voters, and the earlier fear of massive vote drain has not materialized. PM Anwar said BN’s victory in Pelangai showed that the cooperation among parties in the Unity Government had successfully shattered the narrow-minded racism and malicious narratives, while the Chinese played a pivotal role in this by-election to contribute positively to BN’s victory.

With so many elections in the past few months (six state elections, twin by-elections in Johor and Pelangai by-election), political fatigue has evidently seeped into Malaysian society. It is now time for all parties to put aside politics and work together to boost the country’s development.

PN must stop manipulating the “change government” narrative to disrupt market sentiment and undermine political stability. PN has kept playing the “change government” card from the six state elections through the Johor twin elections and the just concluded Pelangai by-election. The reality is, the elections are now behind us, but the Unity Government is still very much alive and kicking, with no elected Pahang state reps from the Unity Government changing sides as alleged.

Well, it is up to individuals to interpret whether the “green wave” has subsided, but judging from the results of recent elections, at least at this juncture PN has failed to make major breakthroughs to rock the foundation of the Unity Government. So, stop talking about changing government, and do your part–as opposition or government–and take Malaysia forward! - Sin Chew Daily

Alasan yang diberikan oleh parti mengakui memperjuangkan agama Pas kenapa mereka tolak kerajaan Perpaduan ialah kerana dalam kerajaan itu ada DAP. DAP menurut tok kepalanya adalah klon PAP. Terbaru parti itu sedia bincang untuk berdagang dengan kerajaan Sigapura untuk jual nadir. Begitu kata timbalan tok ketua Tuituman. Apakah dia lupa yang Singapura dikuasai PAP parti yang klon DAP. Saya tak faham. Anologi saya begini, apakah Pas tak sedia makan benda klon tetapi menghalal induk asalnya. Jika keadaan ini tidak munafik apa nak dinamakan. Barangkali munafik. - mso

Meludah ke langit, jatuh ke muka dan jilat semula. Setelah terpekik terlolong kutuk DAP dan Singapura, tuduh Melayu Singapura ditindas dll, akhirnya mahu juga belajar dan berurusan dengan Cina Singapura. Mungkin pengaruh si tua penasihat atau pemimpin sebenar PN. - iammi

Apa nak diheran.. projek musang king pun dpt kt cina.... tapi salah dap... kahh kahh... camtu walaong kena bodoh... - Roslaney Abrah

Dulu kata DAP ejen PAP, loni cari PAP pula, lebai2 - Hj Kamal Tok Seh

Kata PAP abang DAP..dua2 komunis, lepas tu kutuk kaw2 DAP sama dgn PAP..tiba2 nak berkawan dgn PAP...agak2 la lobai - Mohamed Ali Al Bakri

Walaun cakap takserupa bikin - Desril Yunis

If DAP were meeting Singapore ministers the rascist PAS and BERSATU would have kicked up a stink but when they do,its ok maa... - Get some new modal

180 tonnes of ‘hidden’ rice valued at RM405,000 seized.

K’jaan sita kilang beras di Kedah sorok 180 tan metrik beras

RM100mil rice supply fraud uncovered by a Kedah company.

cheers.

Sport's sexy skintight attire...

Ban men from athletics because 

of sexy skintight attire?...

There has been a bit of a debacle after the Terengganu government decided to bar women gymnasts from participating in gymnastics events, including at Sukma (Sukan Malaysia). The state government is PAS-led and falls under the banner of Perikatan Nasional - the “Green Wave”. I’ll bet you that they will say this issue should not be politicised, but it is so obviously politics.

Of course, it would be much more progressive if politics and governance focused on the more important issues of the economy, cost of living, corruption and even freedom of the media and expression, instead of the petty debate of attire in sports. But life is such and it is very worrying if this type of policing spreads and becomes much more a part of our system and culture.

Terengganu’s move is archaic and extremely backward. This has no place if we want to be a progressive and forward-thinking country. This reeks of instances we hear and see in places such as Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia where women are oppressed and everything is just backward in general. It is just ridiculous to see how the state suggested that all the gymnasts move on to a different sport.

It was reported that several of the state’s gymnasts had moved on to wushu, which is a totally different sport that gymnastics (although the attire is definitely much looser). What is the logic for someone who has been training for years in one particular sport and then told to change to another unrelated sport? 

That would be a total waste of their years in training and basically starting from zero again. I guess that’s why several other gymnasts in Terengganu just decided to retire and apparently ‘focus on their studies’. What a shame that talent is just wasted just like that. It is also such a pity for these athletes who could probably have so much potential in an athletic career.

Try banning men...

What’s surprising is that this form of oppression only befalls the women. How come there aren’t any restrictions like this for men? How about men’s football? They tend to wear shorts and if religion is a reason, then that would be wrong too because they would be exposing their knees and that would be considered their aurat (modesty) which should be covered. So they should just ban all men from taking part in football.

Athletics is another sport that should also face the same restriction. Have you seen how skimpy the shorts and singlets men wear in athletics? And what about their tight-running leggings or even onesies? It’s so tight that you can see every shape of the legs and crotch. Nothing is left to the imagination. Shouldn’t we then ban all men from taking part in athletics?

Azeem Fahmi, who just made Malaysia so proud by winning the bronze in the 100m sprint at the 2023 Asian Games, should not be allowed to pursue his career any longer. He should take up fencing instead where his entire body and face will be covered completely (obviously I’m just making a point here and not seriously believing that!).

And footballers should all take up judo instead because they wear a judogi or kimono. Oh but wait, after all of the pulling they do in the ring, sometimes their clothes get untucked and their stomach and belly button are revealed. I guess we should ban that too.

Moving backwards...

My daughters are both gymnasts and do compete. I remember speaking to their gymnastics coach once before a competition. Apparently, there were already compromises made to the rules, especially for competitions organised by the Youth and Sports Ministry as well as the Education Ministry, to encourage more people to participate for example allowing girls to wear shorts outside of their leotard.

But I guess that’s not enough for the Terengganu state government. But then again, how come it is enough for men? Male footballers are allowed to wear long leggings under their shorts even if those leggings are figure-hugging and the contours of their knobbly knees can clearly be seen. Are there different standards between men and women?

It also seems like all these decisions were made by men. Even the statements regarding this issue in the news were all quotes from men. Is this another way for men to assert control? Are there no women in the sports agencies or in the state government who can put forth any comments, opinions or suggestions? If this is the case, then it’s confirmed that if we let this go on, we are really moving backwards.

We cannot allow this to develop any further or else we will eventually really become a Taliban state. If this is what the “Green Wave” is all about, then we should be really worried and take active measures so that this ideology doesn’t propagate any further. We all know how countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia are when it comes to their treatment of women. It is dangerous.

Remember that it’s okay to be conservative, but there should be no compulsion and don’t impose it on anyone. There is always a way and at the end of the day, we must not be lazy to engage and have thoughtful discussions so that we can be an inclusive and fair society. - Zan Azlee,mk

Taktik PN makan diri di Pelangai...

Bekas menteri besar Pahang Adnan Yaakob mungkin telah bantu tumbangkan Perikatan Nasional (PN) pada PRK Pelangai semalam sama ada secara sedar atau tidak. Pada awalnya Adnan dilihat seakan ‘bola tanggung’ buat gabungan pembangkang itu, beliau sebaliknya antara kunci kemenangan Barisan Nasional (BN). Ini mungkin sekadar satu teori tapi kaitan Adnan dalam kemenangan calon BN Amizar Abu Adam tidak boleh dinafikan, manakala PN yang beria-ia mahu mengembangkan ‘Gelombang Hijau’ ke Pahang kesudahannya bungkus.

Amizar memperoleh 7,324 undi untuk menang dengan majoriti lebih kecil 2,949 undi ke atas calon PN Kasim Samat yang mendapat 4,375 undi sementara calon bebas, Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli hanya meraih 47 undi, sekali gus hilang deposit. Peratusan keluar mengundi 72.12%. Pada PRU15, calon BN Johari Harun menang dengan majoriti 4,048 undi, menewaskan calon PN, Kasim yang mendapat 3,260 undi, Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri (PH) 2,031 undi, dan Isa Ahmad (Pejuang) 65 undi. Peratusan keluar mengundi ketika itu 78%.

Pada PRK semalam, BN menduduki tempat teratas di tujuh daripada sembilan daerah mengundi termasuk Felda Chemomoi, kecuali Felda Kemasul dan Felda Kemahal yang memihak PN. Pada 16 Ogos lalu, tokoh veteran Adnan dipetik berkata bahawa Umno dah nak ‘bungkus’ selepas parti itu sekadar menang 19 – masing-masing dua kerusi di Selangor dan Pulau Pinang, satu di Kelantan dan 14 di Negeri Sembilan – daripada 108 kerusi yang ditandingi pada PRN 12 Ogos lalu.

Oleh kerana beliau membuat kenyataan itu tatkala di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur dipercayai bagi kes membabitkan Pengerusi PN Muhyiddin Yassin, maka banyaklah tafsiran dibuat yang Long Nan, seperti beliau dikenali, tidak lagi menyokong Umno. Namun, beliau tidak pula pernah umum demikian. Muhyiddin ketika itu dilepas dan dibebaskan terhadap empat pertuduhan menggunakan kedudukannya sebagai perdana menteri kelapan bagi suapan berjumlah RM232.5 juta daripada tiga syarikat untuk Bersatu yang diketuainya.

“Umno pun dah nak bungkus dah, bungkus lipat,” katanya dalam video berdurasi 25 saat yang tular sejak itu. Lantaran bekas Adun Pelangai selama lapan penggal sejak 1986 ini ditafsirkan tidak lagi di pihak Umno, maka majoriti pengundi di DUN itu dianggap harus mengambil pendirian serupa.

Tetapi, apabila Adnan dilihat menyertai pimpinan BN lain pada majlis pengumuman calon pada 20 September lalu dan kemudian turun membantu Amizar pada minggu kedua berkempen, PN tidak dapat menggunakan naratif yang sama. Cuma Haslihelmy yang mendakwa nama Long Nan sudah “tidak laku untuk dijual”.

“Adnan tidak asing di Pelangai dan beliau sangat baik kepada masyarakat di DUN ini. Pelangai dan ‘Long Nan’ berpisah tiada. Mereka (pembangkang) ambil kesempatan sahaja. Kehadirannya membantu kempen saya melambangkan beliau sebenarnya memang orang Umno dan tak akan keluar,” kata Amizar.

PRK Pelangai juga barangkali akan diingati sebagai yang kotor mengatasi PRK Pulai dan Simpang Jeram pada 9 September, dengan PN menggunakan apa saja dakwaan – daripada kerajaan perpaduan cacamarba dan mengamalkan liberalisme agama, adanya empat Adun kerajaan akan lompat parti, penggunaan polis lebih ramai daripada biasa untuk menakutkan penyokong pembangkang, Umno gunakan aset kerajaan untuk berkempen hinggalah kepada menyogok beras percuma untuk memancing sokongan.

Kata-kata Muhyiddin dalam sesi dialog bahawa kedudukan Umno ketika ini ialah di “celah kelangkang” DAP dan Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim harus yang paling tidak sopan. Umno, yang dituruti kehadiran Anwar memilih untuk menjawab apa saja tohmahan yang dilontarkan berbanding mengambil pendekatan yang sama terhadap pembangkang.

Satu tinjauan ‘Pelangai Memilih: Antara Legasi dan Perubahan’ membabitkan 1,772 responden merangkumi sembilan pusat daerah mengundi dari 29 September hingga 2 Oktober lalu membayangkan PN akan tewas. Hampir semua responden telah membuat keputusan, dengan 55.5% akan mengundi BN dan 43.2% lagi memilih PN.

Menurut Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya, BN mengekalkan DUN Pelangai semalam dengan 62% bahagian undi. “Berdasarkan dapatan, didapati bahawa naratif perubahan yang dibawa PN masih belum dapat menembusi jiwa pengundi di DUN Pelangai walaupun telah ada peningkatan kecenderungan terhadap PN,” kata Akademi Pengajian Melayu Universiti Malaya (APM) yang menjalankan tinjauan itu.

Laporannya yang disediakan oleh lima penyelidik, Shahrill Sabarudin, Prof Madya Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, Prof Madya Dr Novel Lyndon, Dr Suffian Mansor dan Nasrullah Mappatang juga menyatakan Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail menikmati tahap populariti yang tinggi, dengan 80.9% menyokong pentadbirannya. Majoriti responden yang tinggal di tiga Felda di Pelangai – Chemomoi, Sungai Kemasul, dan Sungai Kemahal – berkata mereka berpuas hati dengan kerajaan negeri.

Dalam pecutan akhir PN menampilkan bekas perdana menteri Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Ketua Pengarah Pilihan Raya PN Sanusi Nor sekali lagi dalam ceramah grand finale tapi harus sudah terlambat untuk mengubah kedudukan. Sebaliknya, benarlah telahan Wan Rosdy bahawa kemaraan ‘Gelombang Hijau’ akan dinoktahkan pada PRK Pelangai. - Hishamuddin Aun 

Dato Sri Suhaily, Pengarah JSJ.

cheers.

UMNO swimming in Pelangai?...

 

The coming by-election this weekend in Pahang is yet another test for the grand old party, Umno at a time when it has been struggling for political support. Created in 1986, this rural/semi-rural constituency, a couple of hours outside of Kuala Lumpur, has long been an Umno stronghold.

For eight terms, Pelangai was held by Umno’s former menteri besar Adnan Yaakob before he retired in 2018. The late Johari Harun was a first-term representative elected last November, hoping to bring new ideas for development in an area that combines Felda settlements with a small town.

This piece details the voting history in this constituency, arguing that there are four factors that will shape the outcome of this election - Umno’s Malay support, loyalty among non-Malay BN voters, crossover of Pakatan Harapan non-Malay voters to Umno, and Umno’s persistent strength among younger voters in Pelangai.

Pelangai’s voting history replicates that of the past, when Umno was strong. This election will indicate whether the party is able to hold onto its past and maintain a stronghold seat and slow PAS’ extension of power.

Another Malay battle...

Pelangai is a Malay majority seat, with 72 percent Malay voters in a seat of 16,456 voters. Most Malays live in the Felda areas, so in this regard, the battle is also another Felda contest. In the 2022 election, Umno won an estimated 59 percent of the Malay vote in Pelangai, with Perikatan Nasional picking up only an estimated 35 percent and Harapan a mere estimated five percent.

This result speaks to how much of a Umno stronghold this seat is. Compared to other seats in Pahang, where Umno’s overall Malay support in this state was only an estimated 42 percent and PN’s an estimated 49 percent, Pelangai bucked the trend as Malay voters confidently stayed loyal to Umno. Since 2022, Malay support for Umno has eroded further as PN made gains across elections from as much as an estimated 22 percent gain in the state elections of Negeri Sembilan to an estimated seven percent in Kelantan in August’s six state elections.

The party leading in gains among Malays is PAS, contesting in Pelangai. Two key questions in assessing this contest are 1) how much will PAS gain among Malays in Pelangai and 2) whether this amount will be enough to win. Scenarios suggest that PAS can win Pelangai if it is able to secure 62 to 68 percent of the Malay vote, depending on turnout. This figure lies comfortably in the national patterns of Malay support for PN and PAS, but is a significant gain in Pahang (by at least 13 percent) and an even larger gain given the history of Pelangai (gain of 27 to 33 percent).

On the scope of Malay support swing alone needed to change the seat’s fortunes, Umno has a reasonable chance of retaining Pelangai. Yet, recent elections do show that a big “Green” swing is not impossible to achieve for PAS. The saliency of their campaign “Pahlawan Melayu” (Malay warrior) clearly points to Malay gains, but it is unclear whether it will reach the threshold for victory, as Malay votes is only one of many factors influencing the outcome.

BN’s non-Malay loyalty...

The second factor that will shape the outcome of the seat will be non-Malay support. Pelangai comprises 18 percent Chinese voters, six percent Indians and four percent Orang Asli and other communities. Each of these communities will shape the result, given the increasing competitiveness of the constituency.

What distinguishes this seat from the national pattern is the limited polarisation of voting along ethnic lines. Umno/BN won large shares of support among all of the communities in this seat, especially Orang Asli (estimated 82 percent) and Indians (estimated 51 percent). Even among Chinese voters, Umno/BN won an estimated 45 percent. The party did this in collaboration with its BN partners, MCA and MIC, as well as the pull of the Umno-led state government.

In many ways, voters in Pelangai will not only be deciding whether Umno’s Malay base is comfortable being in the unity government, but also whether non-Malay voters who voted for BN in the past are comfortable in the unity government. There is dissatisfaction among some non-Malay BN voters who feel left out of the unity government, but it is not yet clear whether this will be decisive.

Noteworthy, however, is that PN did not win any support from non-Malays in 2022. PAS will hope to make gains, picking up on possible disgruntlement. It will face an uphill task, as PAS support among non-Malays in Pahang in the past two elections has been extremely low.

 

Harapan crossover to Umno...

Non-Malays in this seat, whether they return to vote and who they vote for, will matter. As Malay support drops for Umno, there is greater dependence on non-Malay support. Another factor in this seat will be whether there will be Harapan crossover to Umno, notably whether Chinese and Indian voters will support the latter. These communities turned out less than others in 2022, but turnout levels were reasonably high then.

This by-election turnout and Harapan crossover to Umno will be crucial. Depending on the level of turnout and the scope of Malay swing, Umno will need at a minimum of a third of traditional Harapan Chinese support and half of traditional Harapan Indian support to hold onto the seat.

It will also need to win over the estimated five percent of Malays who voted for Harapan in 2022 but are not asked to vote for Umno. Ironically, Umno now depends on the support of voters who have long opposed it.

The national trend has been a growing electoral co-dependence among unity government parties/coalitions, with crossover votes essential for securing victories in now primary two-major contenders contests. Pelangai puts the spotlight on how much Umno is now dependent on support that it has not won before.

Youth factor...

Another group that Umno will depend on is younger voters, an issue that was tied to the controversy about the selection of the candidate from Umno. Unlike the national trend, Umno won the majority of younger voters under 30 years of age, an estimated 60 percent in 2022. These voters make up a quarter of the electorate in Pelangai.

The age group that Umno had the least support in 2022 is another quarter of the electorate, those in their 40s, where the party only won an estimated 48 percent. PN will be focusing on these two groups of voters under 40 years of age in this election, hoping to win over youth voters as it has done elsewhere.

Umno’s ability to hold youth support will be decisive. Reminiscent of the Mat Kilau film, the “pahlawan” imagery is geared toward strengthening its appeal as the PAS campaign moves away from its Islamist roots to a broader ethnonationalist message.

Relevancy for Umno

The stakes for this by-election may appear little nationally, but, for Umno, the Pelangai result will go to the heart of its future, nationally and in Pahang. Given the stakes that the Umno state leadership has invested in the campaign, securing a seat of a former MB, its electoral strength is also being tested.

The campaign has prominently featured the use of incumbency at the state level and access to the federal government, suggesting that a PN victory will not yield gains to voters. This reliance on incumbency is an old message Umno has used in the past that it hopes will continue to be relevant.

In Pelangai, Umno is working to reaffirm its relevancy. Its leaders are not connecting to the same degree as in the past. The outcome will indicate whether the party is able to swim, merely tread water or is in fact drowning from lower support from voters, both young and old and across communities.

The result will indicate whether it is holding onto enough of its base. It will also indicate whether the party can begin to secure a new base through its electoral co-dependence on its unity partners and through a crossover vote. Unlike in the past, this Umno stronghold seat is competitive. It is far from a sure win for the party.

If Umno loses and PAS does beat the odds and secure a victory in the former’s traditional stronghold, Umno will indeed be drowning well beyond the levels described by its leaders in the campaign. Indications a few days out of the voting day are that Umno should have its head above water, but it is still struggling to swim. - Bridget Welsh. - mk

PMX turun bukan tanda Umno terdesak...

Suasana di sekitar kawasan DUN Pelangai lebih hingar-bingar daripada biasa. Sebabnya Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim turun ke kawasan itu dari petang hingga ke tengah malam untuk bersua muka dan bertentang mata dengan pengundi seramai mungkin. Tiga majlis diatur untuk PMX, bermula dengan “Karnival Segalanya Felda” di Felda Chemomoi. Selepas solat Maghrib, beliau kemudian ke majlis Kenduri Rakyat sempena ulang tahun ke-36 Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) di Kampung Agropolitan Chemomoi yang berdekatan.

Pada waktu yang hampir sama dengan majlis kedua itu, pengacara majlis di Ceramah Mega Perpaduan Madani di Dataran Simpang Pelangai sibuk mengehadkan masa barisan penceramah kepada masing-masing lima minit saja untuk meluangkan secukup masa kepada Anwar sebagai penutup ceramah.

Pimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Harapan (PH) daripada Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Sharkar Shamsudin, Shamsulkahar Mohd Deli, Rosni Zahari, Mohamad Alamin, Isa Samad, Mohd Nizar Najib, Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi, Aminolhuda Hassan, T Murugiah, Young Syefura Othman, Lokman Noor Adam, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki dan Mohd Sany Hamzan semuanya dihambat supaya turun pentas melewati lima minit.

Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi (MKT) Umno Ahmad Maslan pun hanya sempat menjual empat rangkap pantun dan setibanya perdana menteri, mengumumkan: “Saya rasa saya nak baca pantun ni di hadapan perdana menterilah ya. Bandar Kuantan ada hikayat, kisah bersemi cerita bersama, kita berjuang untuk rakyat, dulu kini dan selama-lama.” Ahli politik akan sentiasa cari peluang untuk skor poin! Cuma Presiden Amanah Mohamad Sabu dan Presiden Umno Zahid Hamidi mendapat sedikit tambahan masa di pentas ceramah itu.

Anwar memanfaatkan kira-kira sejam ceramahnya untuk menjelaskan isu-isu semasa yang antara lain merangkumi topik mengapa kerajaan perpaduan pimpinannya dicemburui dan akan kekal sehingga habis penggal, adanya usaha untuk memecah-belah, pentingnya tatakelola yang amanah, usaha berterusan membanteras rasuah, kenaikan harga barang yang mendapat perhatian kerajaan sehinggalah kepada kekurangan beras tempatan di pasaran.

Perdana menteri juga meminta pengundi agar tidak melihat rakan dalam kerajaan perpaduan, DAP sebagai musuh, apatah lagi parti itu melalui setiausaha agungnya Loke Siew Fook menyokong dalam mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri langkah melupuskan hutang peneroka sebanyak RM8.3 bilion. Nada pertuturannya serius dan tegas sambil Anwar mengakhiri ceramahnya diiringi calon BN Amizar Abu Adam di atas pentas untuk diperkenalkannya kepada khalayak sebagai pilihan untuk terus membela nasib mereka.

Mungkin bukanlah sangat isu-isu berkenaan yang menjadi perhatian, sebaliknya kedatangan perdana menteri dikatakan untuk melonjakkan sokongan kepada calon Umno itu dalam PRK Pelangai, Sabtu ini, pada ketika parti kerajaan itu didakwa sedang berdepan ujian getir kerana meningkatnya “gelombang hijau” PN di kawasan berkenaan.

Khamis lalu, Wan Rosdy selaku pengarah pilihan raya bagi PRK Pelangai ketika berucap kepada jentera BN di Kampung Jawi Jawi dekat Bentong berkata laporan yang diterimanya menunjukkan sokongan pengundi masih belum memihak kepada BN. Malah, menteri besar Pahang itu memberitahu penyokong BN di DUN Pelangai supaya menasihatkan anak-anak mereka yang tidak menetap di kawasan itu agar tidak pulang mengundi jika tidak menyokong BN.

DUN Pelangai dianggarkan memiliki kira-kira 2,000 pengundi luar dengan kebanyakannya menetap dan bekerja di Lembah Klang. “Anak-anak kita yang berada di luar, kalau dia tak bersama dengan kita, tak payah suruh balik. Biar duduk di Kolumpo (Kuala Lumpur) je. Mengacau je. Biar kita je yang menguruskan kampung halaman kita,” katanya. Beliau kemudian menjelaskan bahawa kenyataannya itu sekadar berseloroh.

Pemerhati mengandaikan BN kini di depan tapi belum selesa di sebalik PN — seperti kempen di Pulai dan Simpang Jeram bulan lalu – terus menyerang Zahid yang didakwa mereka mendapat DNAA kerana campur tangan eksekutif serta kononnya Melayu-Islam terancam ekoran kerjasama Umno dengan DAP. PN juga menggesa pengundi menambah wakil pembangkang di DUN Pahang.

Ahli MKT Umno Sharkar yang saban hari membantu jentera BN-Umno menolak kedatangan perdana menteri sebagai isyarat parti itu memerlukan bantuannya untuk melonjakkan sokongan pada minggu kedua kempen dengan jangkaan PN juga akan menampilkan pemimpin tertinggi mereka pada beberapa hari terakhir ini. Pengerusi BN Muhyiddin Yassin juga turun ke Simpang Pelangai dan berakhir di Felda Chemomoi malam tadi.

“Memang perebutan sebenar adalah di kawasan Felda – Felda Chemomoi, Felda Sungai Kemasul dan Felda Sungai Kemahal (di mana PN mendapat sokongan kira-kira 45% pada PRU15, lebih-lebih lagi dalam kalangan pengundi muda).

“PM, yang diketahui punya jadual padat dan akan ke Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) Khamis ini, mahu menemui sendiri pengundi sebelum lawatan itu. Memang biasanya dalam mana-mana PRK, PM tak turun tapi ini bukan tanda Umno sedang terdesak. Ini selepas TPM (Zahid) datang dua malam berturut-turut pada Ahad dan Isnin. 

“Lagipun, PM turun ke Pelangai memberi optik yang baik. Memang kita nak santuni pengundi mengikut segmen yang berbeza-beza dan seboleh-bolehnya kita mahu mendatangi terus kepada mereka,” kata Sharkar.

Kelebihan di pihak Umno tentunya sokongan masyarakat bukan Melayu, yang merangkumi 28% pengundi di DUN Pelangai. Keputusan PRU lalu menunjukkan BN dan PH meraih jumlah undi lebih kurang sama di dua pusat daerah mengundi (PDM) majoriti bukan Melayu di Manchis dan Telemong manakala PN ketinggalan jauh di belakang.

Malah, jentera PH-BN harus berasa sedap hati dengan hakikat kempen PN di kawasan-kawasan desa lebih perlahan. Program ceramah malam mereka kurang dihadiri pengundi walaupun menampilkan beberapa pemimpin utama hingga mendorong kempen dari rumah ke rumah dipergiatkan. “Mengikut bacaan kami, jika kami boleh mengekalkan momentum ketika ini, kami boleh menang. Cuma kami tidak mahu berasa terlalu yakin,” kata Sharkar lagi.- Hishamuddin Aun 

Jana Wibawa: Muhyiddin files for 

DNAA in 3 money laundering charges...

Having succeeded in his bid to be freed from four abuse of power charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, Muhyiddin Yassin has now filed to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from the remaining three money laundering charges. 

The former prime minister filed the notice of application at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Monday, and his legal team served copies of the application to the prosecution on the same day. Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin confirmed that they have been served copies of Muhyiddin’s application.

Previously, Muhyiddin’s legal team informed the Sessions Court that they intended to file the bid to set aside the three money laundering charges. On Aug 15, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Muhyiddin’s application to nullify the four abuse of power charges against him, resulting in a full acquittal. However, the prosecution has since appealed to the Court of Appeal to reverse this acquittal.

‘Baseless charges’

Unlike a full acquittal, a DNAA opens the possibility of Muhyiddin being recharged for the same offence in the future, if prosecutors wish to do so. According to a copy of Muhyiddin's affidavit in support of the DNAA bid, the Bersatu president contended that the three money laundering charges are now baseless with the nullification of the four abuse of power charges.

The Perikatan Nasional chairperson claimed this was because money laundering charges depend on the existence of predicate (main) criminal charges such as abuse of power. He contended that with the four power abuse charges having been quashed, the three money laundering charges have become baseless.

Money laundering is the offence of disguising financial assets so they can be used without detection of the illegal activity that produced them. Through money laundering, the monetary proceeds derived from criminal activity are transformed into funds with an apparently legal source. In March before the Sessions Court, Muhyiddin claimed trial for four counts of abuse of power and three money laundering charges involving RM232.5 million. - mk

I thought he is very much against DNAA for his political rivals, condemning everyone and yet now asking for DNAA? - PurpleGhoper1703

Din should personally drag his son in law back to Malaysia to stand trial coz he and his son in law's cases are interrelated. Without his son in law how to to ask DNAA? He must be thinking the court is as intelligent as the people who support PN. - Angin Lintang

DPM got DNAA. You also try lah!!! - Smart Psychedelic Idiot

cheers.