From The New Nation
Ruling combine in Malaysia has got another setback when a prominent opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim got elected to parliament recently. Resurgent after the lifting of a ban on holding office expired in April, Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s opposition leader and former deputy Prime Minister won a resounding victory, despite facing fresh accusations of sodomy, in a by-election on 26 August in a seat vacated by his wife and his success to date has rattled the ruling coalition and undermined Badawi’s leadership.
As he rejoined parliament on August 28 after a decade’s absence, Anwar is seen busy scheming his immediate strategy to bring down the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi government and implement ambitious reforms. He has been trying to make his political comeback since a ban on seeking public office, related to a previous corruption conviction, expired in April. Anwar’s re-entry now into Parliament is expected to complete his political rehabilitation. He was fired by Mahathir as deputy prime minister in 1998 and jailed for six years after he was convicted of corruption and sodomizing his family driver. The sodomy conviction, which Anwar charged was a politically motivated frame-up, was overturned by Malaysia’s top court in 2004.
The governing Badawi coalition currently holds 140 seats in the 222-seat parliament. Anwar’s coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, made up of three parties, holds 82 seats. Anwar has pledged to oust Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said that his deadline to secure enough defectors from the government to overthrown Badawi by 16 September was still on. The governing coalition currently holds 140 seats in the 222-seat parliament. Anwar’s coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, made up of three parties, holds 82 seats. He needs to persuade 30 government MPs to defect. He says the entire ruling party clique and their cronies who have amassed billions. He said that his deadline to secure enough defectors from the government to overthrown Badawi by 16 September was still on.
Former premier Mahathir Mohammed, who has slammed the policies of his successor Badawi for quite time now, said he believed many government supporters voted for Anwar “so that Abdullah will realize that his leadership is no longer wanted.” Mahathir asked Abdullah to take responsibility and resign now. Mukhriz Mahathir, Mahathir’s lawmaker son, said that that with Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament, the parliamentarians cannot afford to have a weak leadership because it could lead to our downfall.
Once the protégé of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar was forced from office in 1998 on corruption and sodomy charges that he denounced as part of a conspiracy to ruin his political ambitions. Ten years on, he is being backed by the biggest number of opposition MPs in Malaysia’s history in his quest to oust the Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled the country for the past 50 years. But to fulfil his dream he must win the backing of 30 legislators from the ruling coalition to get a majority in the 222-member parliament. Besides, Anwar must also fight another charge of sodomy in a court case due to start on September 10. Previous charges of sodomy charges were overturned by a court in 2004 resulting in Anwar’s release from jail after serving six years imprisonment.
Known for his corruption record, Anwar who many see as a possible future prime minister wants to put Malaysia back on a fast track to becoming a developed nation and says he will stamp out corruption and end an affirmative action program for ethnic Malays he says has failed to help them and made the country uncompetitive. The program gives ethnic Malays, who make up more than half the population, privileged access to education and civil service jobs as well as preferential loans and company ownership. Its opponents say it has produced graduates who are unfit for work and engendered a system of cronyism that has stymied economic growth.
Anwar, keen to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has promised to reinvigorate Malaysia’s economy, which has lost some of its attractiveness as an investment destination to faster-growing regional rivals. A research report said they expect the government to pull all stops with an expansionary, populist budget, designed to yield maximum political mileage during this critical period for the government. The twin overriding objective would be to placate public unhappiness over soaring inflation, as well as keep the BN (ruling coalition) component parties happy and minimise the possibility of further defections to the opposition coalition.
Abdullah, however, played down the significance of Anwar’s triumph. Abdullah resisted calls to resign after the March elections. In the March elections, Prime
Minister Badawi’s coalition won 140 of the 222 seats, while Anwar’s three-party alliance won an unprecedented 82 - 30 short of a majority - and wrested control of five states. Abdullah’s party has been the main party in a coalition that has governed Malaysia uninterrupted since independence from Britain in 1957, but which was seriously weakened for the first time in the March elections. Each major ethnic group Malays, Chinese and Indians, is represented by its own political party. Cracks started to appear in the ruling coalition especially from the United Malays National Organization, the biggest government party as there were calls for Prime Minister Badawi to quit. The government has been reeling since losing its usual two-thirds majority in an election in March, but it retained a parliamentary majority and is stable. The last time opposition parties made similar gains in Malaysia was 1969, an election where victory parties degenerated into deadly ethnic riots that scarred the national consciousness.
The ringgit currency and the stock market have fallen sharply since the opposition deprived Barisan of its two-thirds parliamentary majority in March. The prospect of prolonged political upheaval has hit Malaysian assets hard, even though some economists have lauded Anwar’s plans and he is viewed by many investors as a safe pair of hands after holding the post of finance minister in the 1990s.
Abdullah is facing renewed calls to step down from some in the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the main party in the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for five decades, after Anwar’s better-than-expected election result.
Emerging political scenario has made the ruling coalition a bit nervous. The Malaysian government is expected to announce several populist measures in its 2009 budget to ward off the challenge from Anwar Ibrahim as it tries to tighten its weakening grip on power in the face of economic and political challenges.
Prime Minister Abdullah has already said that the budget may include some relief for the poor to shield them from high prices, and analysts said the steps could include cash handouts, incentives for small and medium entrepreneurs, and tax cuts. Annual inflation in Malaysia surged to 8.5 percent in July, the highest since December 1981 and well above expectations, and the central bank has said it is likely to stay high this year and early next year.
The government has already given a taste of populist economic policy by announcing a surprising cut in fuel prices last week. “The fiscal deficit was brought down from 5.3 percent of GDP in 2002 to 3.2 percent of GDP in 2007, but it is projected to widen to 3.5-4.0 percent in 2008-09, reflecting largely higher operating and development expenditure,” CIMB said in its budget preview. Malaysia is going to tolerate for a couple more years deficit budget spending, which has been the case since 1998,” According to Citigroup, the average annual development expenditure is likely to be 53-57 billion ringgit in 2009-10, significantly above the average of 38.9-41.6 billion ringgit in 2006-08. The extent of the government’s generosity would only be capped by concerns over the size of the fiscal deficit, though windfall petroleum revenues would provide some important relief.
The government has also brought forward fuel price cuts after it slashed subsidies earlier this year in a move that was lauded by economists but shattered its popularity. “The budget would also aim to shore up support for the government following the huge fuel price hike in June and the electoral setback earlier this year,” the United Overseas Bank said in a recent report. The government is also expected to announce a significant increase in development spending, which analysts say could slightly widen the fiscal deficit.
The forthcoming budget session in Kuala Lumpur would be fascinating experience for both the ruling and opposition coalitions. The future course of the politics and government also would be determined then. And, that will decide the welfare schemes for the people at large - both the majority and minorities. However, basic character of the economic policies of Malasiya would remain unchanged.
I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION CAN WORK TOGETHER 2 PROSPERITY 4 OUR COUNTRY IN THE FUTURE JUST LIKE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA AND BRITAIN.
WE DONT WANNA SEE ANOTHER LEADER FIGHTING LIKE KIDS,ACT LIKE ADULTS.
DSAI , please rescue us from the economic turmoils and declines…
Salam mesra YB Anwar dab isteri;
saya amat sedih melihat YB telah banyak mengharungi berbagai ranjau yang bukan senang bagi seorang manusia biasa dapat menempuhnya. kerana berbekal keyakinan dan takwa serta limpah kurnia illahi; YB telah sedikit sebanyak melepasinya.
Diharap sekiranya YB menjadi PERDANA MENTERI MALAYSIA, saya yakin YB akan menjaga semua kaum di MALAYSIA yang tercinta tak kira MELAYU, CINA , INDIAN, KADAZAN, BIDAYUH, IBAN dan sebaganya kerana mereka semus adalah adalah anak anak dilahirkan di malaysia yang semestinya dibawah jagaan setiap PERDANA MENTERI ibarat IBUBAPA.
Saya amat tertarik dengan AGENDA EKONOMI DAN perlaksanaannya, ia adalah sesuatu yang berbeza dan mengambilberat rakyat jelata. Dari pendapat umum, diharap juga jika boleh diubahkan pola politik atas pertimbangan YB, apa salahnya seandainya jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri diisi oleh kalangan bukan melayu buat pertama kali dalam sejarah malaysia. Saya rasa ini akan memperkuatkan kedudukan MALAYSIA di mata dunia.
Ini hanyalah satu cadangan sahaja.
Selamat melaksanakan tugas murni YB kepada RAKYAT MALAYSIA.
AMIN.
ALL THE BEST for MALAYSIAN.
Nothing worse than a passionless, uninspired, soulless attempt to describe what is undoubtedly the greatest political passion play ongoing in Malaysia - involving the forces of Good and Evil and a suspenseful battle for the future of a nation. Obviously, this was written by a bespectacled nerdish product of journalism school! Wake up, Dr Abdul Ruff! Perhaps you can be excused for your lukewarm style of political commentary since you’re Bangladeshi, not Malaysian. But reading your essay is like eating one of those cold industrial sandwiches served on MAS domestic flights.
My friend, what we are witnessing in Malaysia right now is a political drama of MYTHIC PROPORTIONS! Think Star Wars… Lord of the Rings… Muhammad’s Hejirah…. The Return of the Christ! That’s right… that’s the VITAL INGREDIENT you’ve missed. I suggest you turn yourself in for resuscitative therapy! :-)
PILIH ANWAR JADI PERDANA MENTERI !
PELUANG AKHIR BUAT ABDULLAH BADAWI.
ALTERNATIF AMPUH UNTUK MARUAH DAN KEDAULATAN NEGARA.
BERHADAPAN DENGAN KEBUNTUTUAN, TIDAK MENENTUNYA IKLIM EKONOMI DAN GAWAT POLITIK YANG BERTERUSAN MENJADIKAN PAK LAH TAMBAH LETIH DAN TAK BERMAYA ! BERKALI-KALI DIBELASAH PENCABAR DAN TAK KURANG HEBAT DIGANYANG RAKAN TAULAN SENDIRI, PAK LAH DAH LEMBEK ! BINGGUNG ! SECUBIT SEMANGAT BERTAHAN HANYA KERANA EGO ‘KETUANAN’ ATAU CEMAS TAK PUNYA JAWAPAN ATAU TAKUT DIHAMBAT DOSA JIKA MELEPASKAN JAWATAN !
ABDULLAH TAK BOLEH BERLAMA-LAMA UNTUK BERTAHAN !
DALAM TERHOYONG-HAYANG BEGITU, FIKIRAN CELARU ! WARASNYA BUNTU !
HANYA SATU…PUN KALAU DIA MAHU !
MENGAKU ! AKUR ! TAUBAT LE SENANG CAKAP…..!
ADAB TAUBAT NI…MENGAKU SALAH, INSAF DAN JANGAN ULANG-ULANG LAGI !
JADI, APA PATUT DIA BUAT ?!
MENGAKU DAH TAK MAMPU. DAH TAK BERDAYA !LETAK JAWATAN !
ORANG BERMARUAH SEBENARNYA BERAMANAH ! ORANG CERDIK BIASANYA KREATIF !
MAKSUD KREATIF ? BUAT SESUATU YANG LUAR BIASA TETAPI CANTIK, MENARIK DAN ‘MENGANCAM’ !
JADI, GABUNGKAN MARUAH DENGAN KREATIF !
JAWAPANNYA…
LANTIK ANWAR JADI PERDANA MENTERI !
JIKA MASIH MAHU BERTAHAN BEGINI, ADA MARUAH KE ? PARTNER SENDIRI PUN ‘TUMPANG TENDANG’ SEKALI ? SOAL PENTING SEKARANG, NEGARA PENTING ATAU ‘PERUT SENDIRI’ PENTING ? SILA JAWAB ! TAK NAK JAWAB, SAYA BAGI SOALAN KEDUA…!
ADA MARUAH KE TAK BERMARUAH !
MUNGKAR-NANGKIR (NAMA MALAIKAT) BUKAN TIDO, SEDARA…!
MALAIKAT MAUT PLAK, TAK MAKAN RASUAH ! HAH…BIAR BETUL !
ATAU MUDAH CAKAP……!
LANTIK ANWAR JADI PERDANA MENTERI !SENANG CERITA !
TAK BOLEH ? APSAL PLAK ?
LAIN PARTI ?
ITU LE KREATIF NAMANYA !
ORANG CERDIK CAM TU LE ! BUAT KEJUTAN ! SUPRISE !TAPI, HAPPY ! MACAM ANAK-ANAK SELALU BUAT SUPRISE HARI JADI….HAH…GITU !~
NAK LANTIK ORANG LAIN ?
ALAHAI…MUKA MANA YANG BOLEH JADI CONTOH, BANG LAH ? CUBA HABAQ MAI, CEK NAK TOLONG JAWAB !
YANG DOK ADA TU PUN, ALAHAI…NAK JAGA BINI SENDIRI PUN TAK TERDAYO..APELAK NEGHARO…BANG LAH EYY…!
PILIH ANWAR !
SURRENDER JE DAPAT MARKAH PENUH !
BUAT LE MACAM-MACAM MANA PUN…..AMBOI ! TAK KAN ANA PLAK NAK TUNJUK AJAR !
“KAMU LEBIH TAHU HAL DUNIAMU,” SABDA RASULULLAH SAW.
BUAT AJE….! JANJI ANWAR NOMBOR WAHID ! NOMBOR SATU ! NUMBER ONE !
JIKA TIDAK !
TUNGGULAH KEHANCURAN, JIKA SALAH KAMU MEMILIH PEMIMPIN !ITU PUN PESANAN RASUL GAK..BETUL KAN !
INGAT-INGAT !
KUBUR KATA MARI ! RUMAH KATA PERGI !
HATI-HATI !
KITA NAK MATI….!
JAGA-JAGA !
ORANG CINTA DUNIA BANYAK CONTOHNYA….NAMRUD ! FIRAUN ! ABU JAHAL !
KE MANA SUDAHNYA..BANG LAH !
TEKA-TEKI !
HIDUP KAT DUNIA MACAM FIRAUN, MATI ESOK LEH JADI JIRAN NABI MUSA KE ?
JAWAB BANG LAH, JAWAB !
DSAI WE ALL ARE WAITING FOR YOUR NEW GOVERMENT…….WHEN WE CAN SEE BN MP DEFECT TO PR…..TODAY THEY(MP) WILL BE FLYING TO OVERSEAS…..GOOODLUCK TO YOU
To conquer a mountain, the last bit of the climb is always the hardest. So do we have the will and the spirit of oneness, to achieve this goal…remove the UMNO-BN govt?
I believe the time is apparent for the change, we need concerted efforts for this final push.
The signs are now visible, this corrupted UMNO led administration is crumbling, act of desperation to hold on to power is obvious…all the lies are unfolding, truth finally came to haunt them.
DSAI, a new govt, a MerdekaII is long overdue. You remain our only hope together with the PKR component parties DAP and PAS, are capable to deliver us from this corrupted and evil BN govt. Now or Never!
Khairul Reply:
September 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Though the response seems swaying towards anwar on both March 08 and Sept 26 but I am skeptical
if malaysia can really be a dreamland as hoped by the malaysian.
Judging by anwar’s aggressive character and projecting more of vendetta in him,
1. can he really be fair?
2. is he not just a figure to the present constitutional monarch?
3. is he truly competent or act on advise?
4. ain’t he just take what it cost so long to achieve his personal desire?
5. why can’t he do it before and risk his political career for the sake of the rakyat
( when he was given the platform as UMNO member not during his tenure as DPM because
during DPM he had step on alot of toes)?
May be alot of his diehard supporters will claimed anwar has changed,reform,repented and etc.But what I can see,hear and through his body languages he is stil anwar ibrahim.
Have more alternatives.
ANAK MALAYSIA Reply:
September 8th, 2008 at 2:23 am
ONLY ALLAH KNOWS
Janganlah main lompat-lompat macam ini , takde baik,tak stabil politik dan negara kita.Masuk pilihanraya , kempen ok.apa yg ada , tadbir betul2.Yakinkan Melayu bahawa hak Melayu tidak pupus di bumi sendiri .You sudah ada 5 states , tadbirlah.Datuk Seri Anwar juga sekarang ketua pembangkang di Parlimen , lawan pemerintah , check mereka apa tak betul.Ini you mahu tarik orang lompat-lompat, rakyat tak suka.Niat u baik mahu hapuskan rasuah dan keadilan , ok bagus tapi u kena bertindak dgn hikmah bukan gopah-gapah.Salam dan selamat berpuasa.
ANAK MALAYSIA Reply:
September 8th, 2008 at 2:26 am
keadaan ekonomi sekarang ni semakin teruk…lagipun PM DAN TPM KITA NAK CUBA HAPUKAN DSAI KITA DENGAN APACARA SEKALIPUN TERMASUK MEMBUNUH DIA TERMASUK KELUARGA DIA KALO BOLEH.
SO KITA SEBAGAI RAKYAT TIDAK ADA PILIHAN LAIN MELAINKAN MINTA PM RESIGN DARI TAMPUK PEMERINTAHAN SECEPAT MUNGKIN SEPERTIMANA DLAKUKAN OLEH PM JEPUN D SANA.
We need you Anwar to forge a united malaysian regardless of race for the betterment of the country! Back in the sixties when when I was in High School Klang, in my class we have lots of malays and indian friends and we get along very well. Now because of those UMNO monkeys playing the racial card the situation is getting out of hand! therefore we need you anwar badly to change the current situation!
A Tribute to RPK For Your Dreams. (Suatu Penghormatan kepada RPK atas Impian Mu)
——————————————————————————–
The latest news about RPK in Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today, that he would be detained under the ISA have moved me to dedicate this speech by one of the great Freedom Fighters in the world, Martin Luther King Jr. ” I Have a Dream” to him.
(Berita terbaru tentang RPK di Malaysiakini dan Malaysia Today, bahawa beliau akan ditahan dibawah ISA telah mengharukan hati saya untuk mendedikasikan ucapan oleh seorang Pejuang Kebebasan Dunia, Martin Luther King Jr. bertajuk “Saya ada Impian” kepada beliau.)
Let us reminiscent over it at http://patek1472.wordpress.com
(Marilah kita mengenangkan tentangnya di http://patek1472.wordpress.com )
Hei What Happen to saiful, he was so busy giving speeches at permatang pauh and he says it is not political. Why is he not giving speeches at chow kit since so many people are going shopping there?? Why only at permatang pauh if not political motivated???? Maybe PKR can supply a stage and a loud speaker for him to cry liwat every night at Chow KIt Area..
Most middle income non Bumi family worries is if they can save enough to send their kids for higher studies.. WE can suffer a bit its OK but it will be most painful if our kids can study but we are not able to provide them.. Our kids are the future and our dreams..
DSAI My only wish after you become the PM is build more university so I need not worry if I can manage to sent my kids for higher studies
Good Luck to you DSAI
May Allah Bless You
Shobhan Reply:
September 7th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I share your sentiment, Robert_KL. We hope nothing untoward happens to RPK and DSAI this week.May God help them both and keep them away from harm.
Win or Lose this September, a Strong opposition can only benefit Malaysia.
Without opposition, there can be no accountability of the action of the Government.
If you look at Communism, any criticism of the government is thwarted. The media is controlled to say only good things…. North Korea, how prosperous can such hardcore communists be?
Opposition will force the current government to do something about its policies. If no action is taken, in 4 years time, the same resounding question will be asked:
“Are you satisfied with your life and this government?”
Obviously Barisan Nasional still has ignored clear pleas for reform…and removal of anti-racist policies. They talk of unity, but when it comes to changing policy, nothing is done.
Words alone do nothing. Action is what needs to be taken.. and if isn’t the government, it will be the people.
betul ka 16hb Sept 2008 ni boleh . I rasa kalau tak jadi , u bagi excuses lah.
Viva Anwar
Pemerintahan baru di Malaysia - 16.09.2008
Dengan lahirnya pemerintahan baru ini, adalah menjadi tanggungjawab bagi pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat menyatupadukan rakyat atas satu nama Bangsa Malaysia.
Memang tidak di nafikan kedudukan bumiputra adalah tunggak kesinambungan pribumi bangsa Melayu di Tanah Melayu…Malaya…dan kini Malaysia (termasuk bumiputra Sabah/Sarawak).
Sebagai mengkukuhkan integrasi antara kaum di bumi Malaysia adalah menjadi langkah bijak andai pemerintah baru memperkenalkan Kad Pengenalan baru yang mencatat identiti Anak Malaysia.
Contoh:
Bangsa/Kaum: Anak Malaysia/Bumiputra-Kadazan
Bangsa/Kaum: Anak Malaysia/Kantonis
Bangsa/Kaum: Anak Malaysia/Sikh
dan seterusnya……….ini boleh mempereratkan jalinan dan kejituan jatidiri Aku Anak Malaysia.
Bagi para pendatang (contoh)seperti orang-orang Indonesia yang baru mendapat kerakyatan, Kad Pengenal mereka harusnya dicatat; Bangsa/Kaum: Malaysia/Madura. Jangan ditulis Anak Malaysia kerana mereka tidak dilahirkan di Malaysia.
Perubahan ini seharusnya dibentangkan di parlimen dan diwartakan sebagai termaktub di perlembagaan. Mungkin ada saranan yang lebih baik untuk dibincangkan bersama demi kepentingan seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Kami Anak Malaysia, dan jangan adalah suara-suara haru-biru yang sengaja mengeksploitasikan jatidiri Anak Malaysia. Maka slogan ‘Malaysia Boleh’ lebih nampak impaknya kalau di tukar ‘Anak Malaysia Boleh’.
I ask Allah, the Almighty, the All Powerful by His Grace and Generosity and that He reward DSAI with the best of rewards, and to bless him in his political deeds and his life-span. May the peace and blessing be upon our future New Malaysia Merdeka.
Any politician still harping on the politics of race
Will indeed be condemned as a disgrace to the human race
For how can the person see God as Creator face to face
Even with both eyes fully covered with layers of lace?
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 080908
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Mon. 8th Sept. 2008.
Thank you all for the comments, useful and other wise. I shall think more deeply into Malyasia
Dr.Abdul Ruff Colachal
India, 15/9/8