Penanti Kemenangan Besar... Untuk Rakyat Dan Barisan Nasional!

Keputusan rasmi PRK DUN Penanti mungkin menunjukkan kemenangan besar untuk PKR, tambah pula apabila ketiga-tiga calon bebas hilang wang cengkeram pertandingan mereka. Namun, apabila diperhalusi, dapat dilihat yang keputusan PRK tersebut merupakan tamparan hebat kepada agenda merebut kuasa Anwar Ibrahim. Maksud saya:

1. Jumlah pengundi yang keluar hanyalah 46.15% peratus yakni 7,100 daripada 15,384 pemilih berdaftar di DUN tersebut. Ini menunjukkan rakyat menerima pesanan Barisan Nasional yang inilah PRK membuang masa, membazir dan tidak relevan dalam perjalanan hidup rakyat.


2. Difikirkan yang setidak-tidaknya PKR akan mendapat sokongan padu dari penyokong setianya mahupun pendukung kuasa DAP lain di Pulau Pinang, seperti ahli-ahli PAS. Namun, terlihat jumlah pengundi yang mengundi calon PKR cuma ~38% dari jumlah pengundi keseluruhan, yakni 6,052 undi sahaja!


3. Prestasi calon bebas tidak terlihat hebatnya kerana undinya pecah tiga, tetapi jumlah undi sebanyak 1,294 yang diraih ketiga-tiganya sebenarnya hebat memandangkan DUN Penanti dikatakan kubu kuat PKR di kawasan Parlimen DS Anwar Ibrahim sendiri! Apa sudah jadi sama PKR?


4. Akhir kata, Penanti sebagi suatu peristiwa atau tapak susunan agenda politik DS Anwar Ibrahim ternyata gagal. Rakyat lebih mempedulikan hal penyelesaian masalah ekonomi sekarang dan pelbagai isu lain sekarang. Malah, dari segi politik pun, lebih ramai tertunggu-tunggu keputusan muktamar PAS. Malah DS Anwar sendiri mungkin lebih memperdulikan menang-tidaknya Husam Musa dari kemenangan Dr. Mansor Othman !

Pendek kata, sebagai suatu strategi politik, ternyata DS Najib dan Barisan Nasional membuat keputusan tepat untuk tidak bertanding di Penanti. Pada dasarnya, kelihatan rakyat juga memahami mesej yang ingin diajukan BN, bahawa PRK yang dijadi-jadikan seperti di Penanti, kerana kononnya penyandang nak melanjutkan pelajaran (!), hanya membuang masa dan tidak membawa manfaat.

Ada ura-ura menyatakan DS Anwar merancang supaya salah seorang lagi dari pemegang kerusi Parlimen atau DUN PKR meletak jawatan semata-mata untuk diadakan PRK lagi. Diharap ini tidak berlaku. Tahulah DS Anwar tak sabar-sabar nak merebut kuasa, tetapi fikirkanlah tentang rakyat seketika. Ambilah iktibar dari Penanti dan timba teladan dari pemimpin BN seperti TS Muhyiddin yang sibuk menangani masalah rakyat...

Antara Ketua Pengawas Dan Pemangku Ketua Pemuda

Saya mendapat tahu yang Khairy Jamaluddin ada gelaran baru sekarang... 'Ketua Pengawas'. KETUA PENGAWAS? HAHAHAHAHAHA....

Apabila saya diberitahu oleh seorang yang rapat dengan pergolakan dalaman exco Pemuda, dikatakan gelaran ini diberikan oleh sesetengah exco setelah menerima surat pekeliling dari pejabat KJ menyatakan perlantikan Timbalan Ketua Sekretariat atau Biro Pemuda UMNO haruslah mendapat 'persetujuan' Ketua Pemuda. Ini menimbulkan kegusaran ramai ahli exco, terutama sekali yang menang pertandingan tempohari, kerana:

1. Ahli exco yang memang bukan kem KJ tak sukalah kalau ada machai KJ hendak dilantik untuk menjadi 'spy' di biro mereka pula. Inilah disyaki akan berlaku dengan adanya syarat 'persetujuan'nya dalam perlantikan Timbalan mereka.


2. Ahli exco ada juga sangsi ini cara untuk sama ada memastikan segala publisiti kerja baik mereka diraih tempiasnya oleh KJ ataupun mungkin lebih buruk lagi... mempermudahkan sabotaj dijalankan terhadap program-program!


3. Sebagai ahli politik, ahli-ahli exco tersebut juga mengharapkan dapat meraih sokongan melalui lantikan-lantikan tersebut... tetapi kalau ini di bawah 'persetujuan' KJ... ada la yang bakal tumpang tempias pula! (Dah la KJ ada sejarah memberi gambaran kepada para lantikan Pak Lah dahulu kononnya beliau terlibat dalam pilihan bapa mertuanya tersebut... dia belajar dari Anwar Ibrahim la tu!)


4. Ahli exco yang geng KJ pula merasakan seperti KJ tidak mempercayai mereka!

Nescaya tindakan kurang bijaksana KJ ini semakin melemahkan kedudukan beliau. Walau dilihat masih ada Pemuda UMNO yang cuba memperbaiki keadaan sama ada dengan memberi maklum-balas kepada KJ dalam majlis mahupun sewaktu perjalanan mesyuarat exco, biro, dsb, tindak-tanduk YB Dato' Razali Ibrahim, yakni 'Pemangku' Ketua Pemuda UMNO, tidak membantu.

Dato' Razali sering digambarkan sebagai 'gentleman' yang tidak hidung tinggi terhadap perwakilan Pemuda walaupun sudah selesai pertandingan mahupun kini berjawatan Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan. Ahli-ahli exco yang dirujuk juga menceritakan bagaimana Dato' Razali tetap memberi muka kepada KJ si Ketua Pengawas, walaupun beliau kini semakin mampir rasmi Pemangku Ketua Pemuda. Kematangan yang digambarkan Dato' Razali inilah kini mengancam kedudukan KJ.

Sudah pasti ada ketegangan di antara kedua-dua individu tersebut. Namun penulis diyakinkan ini bukanlah disebabkan oleh Dato' Razali.

Ada yang mungkin bertanya, kenapa penulis masih menulis demikian tentang KJ. Sebabnya adalah Pemuda UMNO memerlukan sinar, harapan, akan adanya jalan keluar dari kegelapan era rejim KJ memimpin Pemuda UMNO. Memang ada. Malah, hasil tindakan Ketua Pengawas di atas, semakin ramai exco Pemuda kini merancang program tanpa merujuk... malah sudah ada yang sama sekali tidak mempedulikan beliau! Nasib baiklah juga ada Pemangku Ketua Pemuda...

Penasihat Datuk Seri Najib Mula Mengarut Pulakah?

Mengimbas balik sejarah silam, pada suatu masa dahulu, adalah lebih mudah untuk rakyat Singapura untuk ke Sabah dan Sarawak dari rakyat Malaysia sendiri yang dari Semenanjung. Keanehan ini Alhamdulillah sudah tiada lagi, tetapi pada masa tersebut, diperlihatkan seolah-olah Singapura lebih rapat dengan kedua-dua negeri tersebut, hingga timbul ide kiasu Singapura untuk menyatukan ketiga-tiganya ke dalam gagasan '3S' (Singapura-Sarawak-Sabah).

Mengimbas kembali sejarah yang lebih dekat, Pak Lah mula tumbang dari tampuk kuasa hasil mendengar kepada ide-ide mengarut para penasihatnya, termasuklah mereka yang suka mengampu Singapura di Tingkat 4.

Imbas-imbasan tersebut jelas membawakan kita kepada persoalan merunsingkan yang seiras diajukan kepada Pak lah bertubi-tubi pada suatu masa dahulu dan kini kembali apabila dilihat DS Najib membincang tentang jambatan ketiga menghubung Singapura ke Malaysia sambil bersetuju tambak Johor dikekalkan, yakni,

KINI GILIRAN PENASIHAT DATUK SERI NAJIB UNTUK MULA MENGARUT PULAKAH?!

Sebab kenapa saya merasakan ide pembinaan jambatan ketiga ke Singapura sambil Tambak Johor juga dikekalkan merupakan karut-marut adalah:

1. Dikatakan jambatan ketiga berniat membangunkan Desaru dan Pengerang. Apakah perlu jambatan tersebut untuk membangunkan kedua-duanya? Padahal, Desaru memang membangun dan pelancongan yang berpaut kepada pelancong yang naik dari Singapura ke Pantai Timur Johor memacu hingga sampai ke Mersing, malah bertempias ke Rompin lagi! Setakat ini, ia tidak memerlukan jambatan ketiga!


2. Kenapakah tidak dihubungkan Pengerang dengan Pantai Barat dengan lebih mudah dahulu? Tidakah ini juga menjana pembangunan? Adakah kita bakal gembira yang orang Singapura lebih mudah ke Pengerang dari orang Muar, Segamat, apatah lagi orang Melaka kelak? Dulu dengan '3S' kita dah malu sekali dah!


3. Malah, kenapakah ide ini tidak dikembangkan potensi dengan sepenuhnya, yakni mencadangkan 'jambatan ketiga' dihubung sekali dengan lebuhraya yang merentas Pantai Timur dari Tanjung Piai hingga ke Rantau Panjang? Inilah ide hebat yang membina negara serta mampu melonjak nama DS Najib menandingi pencapaian Tun Dr M dengan lebuhraya Utara-Selatan yang merentas Pantai Barat dari 'Second Link' ke Bukit Kayu Hitam!


4. Akhir kata, kenapakah tidak dicadangkan jambatan ketiga ini dihubungkan dengan perobohan Tambak Johor? Kalaulah ia dikaitkan, nescaya ia membawa manfaat kepada bandar Johor Bharu, negeri Johor mahupun negara dengan membuka kembali laluan air Selat Tebrau yang diakui DYMM Sultan Iskandar Syah sendiri merupakan hasil penipuan British untuk mengekang pembangunan Johor sebagai pesaing Singapura?

Siapalah saya... cuma seorang blogger yang tak seberapa, namun dengan 2 imbasan dan pembacaan sedikit sebanyak, dapat saya rumuskan seperti di atas. Apakah DS Najib kini juga dalam bahaya kerana masih mendengar nasihat mereka yang hanya cerdik tetapi pendek pengalaman, lantaran kurang bijaksana? Bukankah sudah cukup bukti yang ide setengah masak dan sloganisme ala Lah tak memadai untuk memuaskan kehendak rakyat Malaysia?

Too Many Malaysians Missing The Point... Problem Or Norm?

The chat on priorities I had with my daughter recently has brought certain behaviours of the press, public and indeed the Malaysian on-line community into sharp focus. I had shared my teaching of the importance of prioritising matters to my daughter and then rambled on a bit about this in my last posting, primarily as a whinge against our politicians and leaders in government. However, eventually, one cannot avoid wondering whether the problem is with Malaysians as a whole!

For instance, my learned friend 'Jebat Must Die' (JMD) recently posted a series rebutting the contents of the book by a Dr Kua Kia Soong that claims to 'reveal the truth' of the 13 May riots using 'recently declassified sources'. JMD's postings are refreshing as whilst it successfully demolishes Dr Kua's primary contention, he has done so with great impartiality and has used information so easily verifiable that it nicely unmasks Dr Kua's 'revelations' for the bunk that it is.

JMD's series on the 13 May riots are currently delayed from completion due to a technical problem with his PC. However, I do look forward to a version to be published in book version, with the hope that it would also reveal Malaysians to be the root cause of many of our nations problems! On hopes JMD's writings to be welcomed and more greatly celebrated by all as a genuine attempt at bringing the riots into context... significant seeing as JMD is from the post riot generation!

You see, there is a stark difference between Dr Kua's book and JMD's writting. When one goes back to the Dr Kua's references when reading, you will discern the learned Dr's actively CHOOSING material that supports his main contention, that the riots were due to a Machiavellian plot to seize power among the Malay leaders; LOL... but seriously, it's a claim that is just plain rude! It hence galls me when the Star at the time also chose to publicise the book. WHY?

I am willing to excuse the Star's irresponsible and ignorant act here perhaps... OK Pak Lah's regime was game for a lot of 'openness' then, at least at face value, and certainly was clueless of priorities, but does the Star not see themselves as at risk of being complicit in the spread of Dr Kua's libel? Then again, judging from the rabid racially charged comments to JMD's writing, you can see how the Star can be confused... the Malaysian public or at least many on-line are to!

Today I glanced at Joceline Tan's analysis of BN's decision not to contest at Penanti. Again I found the Star disappointing! OK, I don't really blame Joceline and have found her to be personally very correct in her analysis and postulations. However, in essentially analysing that BN wouldn't contest because it was going to lose and just wanted to take wind out of PR's sails, she missed the bigger message; that DS Najib wishes to focus on its responsibility running the country!

I have to admit to not entirely agreeing to BN's complete withdrawal from Penanti. I had expressed before my own views and was heartened that this view was shared by the majority who bothered to participate on my blog poll on this matter. However, DS Najib seems to have led BN into taking this decision in line with Ghandi's contention that,"A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble."

So, what an ideal opportunity to showcase to Malaysians how the new BN leadership is so focused on delivery of its pledge to govern that they're giving politics a miss! Unfortunately, even the Star has different priorities. As far as the Star is concerned, its main customer base in Penang and Klang Valley are still leaning towards PR, so they also have to pander to their customer's biases (by saying BN would lose anyway), even if it means priorities are lost to sales...

So our problem is essentially a Malaysian problem... most of us don't appreciate what's important! If that's the case...

Finally, I found this blog some time ago. Thought the guy was a one-offer, but he deserves some pluggin here I think... the stupidity of Hindraf's Uthayakumar and how he needed ISA is showcased with some brilliance here... Relevance to this posting? Well, I think reading the postings in this blog is a higher priority that reading Dr Kua's drivel, but reading JMD's write-up is of the highest priority!

Teaching Priorities To Our Children...

Last week whilst I was driving my daughter and son to school, the daughter complained that our maid had made a mistake. It seems the maid had put my son's tuperware in her bag and vice versa. This appeared to be a repeat offence. This is how the conversation subsequently went:

Daughter: Bibi (the maid) selalu buat macam tu...

Me: Selalu? Every day?

D: No... sometimes... but I don't like it...

M: Is there food in the tuperware?

D: Ummm, yes...

M: So which is more important, that Bibi makes sure you have food to bring to school or that she puts the right tuperware in the right bag?

D: The food is more important.

M: Good. You must realise what a rush it is in the morning for everyone to get ready kan?

D: Ya.

M: So, have you thanked Bibi for making sure you and your brother have food every morning?

D: No.

M: Isn't that more important than complaining about the tuperware?

D: ...

M: I know you are upset about the tuperware, and I know it is important to you, but that doesn't mean it's the most important thing. You must understand what is really important when you choose to do things...

I'm not sure if the lesson was well learned, I certainly didn't ask her to swap tuperwares herself with the brother, hoping they'd figure it out themselves. (Not sure if they did really as we pulled up to the school by the end of the conversation). Nonetheless, how, what, where, when and why to prioritise, is a lesson not easily learned, even for a working adult and perhaps the confusion begins at school!

I won't rant about the physical examples of the poor prioritisation of our childrens' lives at school, such as the big bags heavy with nigh all the books they are using for the year as there is poor clarity on what books to bring! Or the strange celebration of kids scoring 18A's at SPM, when I would have preferred 6A's of higher quality and difficulty to attain that are also the childrens' choice of subjects to study with an eye for the future.

There are bigger examples of poor prioritisation in our school system, such as on medium of instruction. I know of no other nation in the world that has, not just allowed non-national languages as a choice for primary medium of instruction at schools, but also has had its government funding the majority of these vernacular schools! Now these schools have become not just a political football in minority politics but is exceedingly seen as the root causes of racial disharmony!

Opposition parties like to say that BN component parties like to practice race-based politics, however, the DAP themselves play this game and this was proven in Perak when the former PR government helped fund some PRIVATE vernacular schools! Last week, we see nonsense escalating in the education arena when Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat claiming 'merit' to mean just exam grades and not co-curricular activities! Ah, I see, so he wants us to be a nation of exam crammers!

I hence welcome efforts by fellow bloggers to stop politicians of any ilk, but especially racist ones, from messing up the priorities of our schools. I have hence joined the following petition. Join us:

Events Take A Turn For The Worse In Pemuda UMNO...?

Many things have been happening with my life, such as covering for my boss when he was away, negotiating 2 Suppy Contracts, getting stuck into some re-org input then going with the family to an 'away day' in Terengganu to boot (I'm still here!). And all this whilst still recovering from my slipped disc and suffering from a computer glitch that stops me from going on line at home!

Nevertheless, I was compelled to comment on the following development. Fyi, many Pemuda UMNO members were waiting for the announcement of this exco as a sign of KJ changing for the better, with a few moves to perhaps bridge the on-going disunity in the wake of his 'unlikely' 'win' as Ketua Pemuda. The announcement of the Ketua-Ketua Pemuda Negeri and the Exco Lantikan was hence critically viewed by many.

No one expects KJ not to appoint those most likely to be loyal to him. Indeed, I cannot fault the appointment of Sdr Maslin Sham as KP Perak and the appointment of Sdr Abu Jimi as KP Pahang is a nice surprise. Some were no brainers of course, with Dato' Rozabil being Treasurer and Sdr Areef being a Pemangku only, of course Sdr Mohsin was chosen as KP Perlis, despite his fierce independence during the contest.

However, there was clear disappointment with a couple of the Exco Lantikan and Ketua Pemuda Negeri choices, as they were seen as divisive and lacking tact that would otherwise be needed to re-unite the party. There also seemed to be awkward choices... for instance, why was Sdr Mohd Faizal Ramli made Exco Lantikan to represent Negeri Sembilan, which has no Exco members, when he was earlier dropped from being a YB? (Whilst this was then under KJ's influence?!)

There may not have been many choices, as for instance, many approached by KJ may well have said a flat no. Some who were 'tested' were happy to be invited so they could say 'NO!' loudly. (Hmmm... wonder why I know?) Nevertheless, those in the Klang Valley certainly and many other states ... too many other states ... will continue to grimance.

In any case, at least KJ's 'network' is more transparent now. Question then would be, would they survive his coming removal as Ketua Pemuda? Jeng, jeng, jeng...

OK... gotta get back to the wife now... ta! ;-)