Stop Being Such a Sore Loser, PKR

PKR should be graceful enough to accept their Hulu Selangor By-election defeat. BN had lost numerous previous by-elections and accepted them gracefully. For example, we lost Manik Urai by-election by a very narrow margin and yet accepted the result without complaining. Even in Hulu Selangor, when BN lost in the 2008 GE by a mere 198 votes, we accepted the people's verdict. Why is it that PKR can never accept the people's verdict gracefully? It has become a trend amongst PKR leaders to hurl all sorts of accusations when they lose, by-elections or otherwise.

By saying that the people of Hulu Selangor have been 'bought over', PKR is casting aspersions on the integrity and intelligence of the voters in Hulu Selangor. It also shows their deep seated disrespect on the choice of the people.

I take this opportunity to thank, on behalf of MIC, all component parties for their close co-operation and strong support in ensuring the victory of YB P.Kamalanathan. I also thank the thousands of BN Party workers and BN supporters for their tireless effort.

However, I would like to caution that we should not be too carried away with this victory. We should continue working hard as we still have some distance to cover before we regain the pre 2008 level of confidence.

I am confident that we will we will regain lost grounds in the 13th GE if we continue this momentum.


S.Murugessan
Secretary General
MIC

Anwar calls Hindraf "racist"

Anwar calls Hindraf "racist".

They were not racist when they supported him.

They were not racist when they voted for him.

When they ask "what have you done for us in return?", they are now "RACIST".

Well done Anwar!

Here is an open letter from Mr Naragan to Anwar

Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI),

At the outset of this piece, let me set the tone – the days of manipulation of the Aiyyas are gone. You cannot go on with your opportunistic ways and become the Prime Minister you want to be, by buying the votes of the Aiyyas for a bottle of cheap liquor. You are not getting to Putrajaya, without first settling your scores with the Aiyyas. And there is a lot to settle and you know it.

We do not need you as a leader of this country in your present manipulative form, because, from our Aiyyas view point, it is no different to us than what Najib has to offer. There is no real and substantive change.

Dear DSAI, you have the audacity to call Hindraf a racist organsiation after having ridden to victory in 5 states on shouts of “Makkal Sakthi” a Hindraf Slogan in the last GE by stealing our votes with those shouts. You are exposing the opportunist in you.

DSAI. you are responsible for creating this racially bigoted system in Malaysia, in the first place.. Go back to the 80s and the 90s, Do you remember you were the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in 1983, Minister of Agriculture in 1984, Minister of Education in 1986, Finance Minister in 1991 and DPM in 1993 – all in, a total of at least 15 years in setting up and fine tuning the current racist regime. What we have today is the outcome of exactly the policies of your past. You are responsible for what we have today, DSAI.

We in Hindraf and HRP are struggling tooth and nail to change exactly that exploitative system, that you are responsible for setting up. You call us racists for doing that. What does that make you, dear DSAI, the creator of that system. Again, I say it, it was in your and Mahathir’s heydays that this racist system was crafted and fine tuned. It was in this period that marginalization of the Indians accelerated.

DSAI,.we have had enough, please stop your slick acts. We are no more the Aiyya’s that you and the likes of you take us to be. We are now just as savvy as you, if not more, because of our experiences of repeated betrayals.

So, please start coming clean - if you truly want to make it as the next PM. You will only get there, with complete Indian support and you know that. If you want that complete Indian support, then start getting away from your own ghost and start to listen. Shouts of Makkal Sakthi is not going to get you there, we have learnt that lesson only too well.

Naragan

Perak Oh Perak

Hardly a week passes by without a politically explosive news hitting the headlines.

The previous week was about the death of A.Kugan in police custody. Last week it was about the Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim jumping ship from BN to Pakatan.

This week is all about Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Behrang Assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.

They were both declared to have vacated their seats by the Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar, only to be denied by the two involved. They have both now declared themselves as independents. The Election Commission has declined to declare both seats as vacant. No by-elections. In the meantime DAP has given the EC 48 hours to rescind its decision.

The drama is still unfolding as I am writing this. We do not know what is going to happen today or in the next few days. Rumours are going around that there will be more defection, that Pakatan will ask for a dissolution of the Perak state assembly, that BN will form a new state government with more 'defectors' joining its fold etc, etc.

What have we descended into? I still remember clearly the day George W. Bush was declared the winner of the 2000 Presidential Election by the narrowest of margin. Although Al Gore received the majority of popular votes, he abided by the wishes of the people as translated by the system. George W. Bush's authority as President nor his right to rule were never once challenged by the margin of his victory (of course the fact that he was one of the worst US President in living memory is another matter).

Recently, when John McCain, a decorated war hero lost to a ' newcomer' Barrack Hussein Obama, he called all Americans to come together to work with the new President. He said "he is President of the United Sates, he is my President". That is the integrity of those that uphold the system and respect the wishes of the people.

Unfortunately, we in Malaysia have succumbed to the low level of politics seen in the less developed third world countries where party-hopping is the norm and the will of the people is twisted through back-door negotiations.

I am strongly against party-hopping and believe that every elected representative must stand in the ticket he was voted in. Alternatively, he should vacate his seat and seek a fresh mandate if he is unable to see eye to eye with his party. The will of the people expressed through the ballot must be respected by all, regardless of the margin of victory. That is the system. And everyone should abide by it, not only when it is convenient. In the long run, it benefits everyone.

However, the present state of confusion and uncertainty in Perak has been brought upon itself by PKR. Anwar started the ball rolling (and much to the excitement of his supporters who saw him as the 'saviour' of democracy in Malaysia) by declaring that he would form a new Federal government through defection of BN MPs by 16th September, 2008. Nothing came out of it except that Pakatan lost its moral high ground.

Last week Pakatan shot shot itself in the foot when it gleefully accepted Datuk Nasaruddin's defection to Pakatan. No questions asked about whether the voters voted for him or the party he represented. No calls for a fresh mandate.

What goes around comes around. Now Pakatan's Perak government is hanging by a thread. It can't object based on principles as it had none to begin with.

At least PAS and DAP had the sense of fair play when they decided not to be too carried away with Anwar's promise of a new government through defection. BN had the good sense not to 'entice' PAS assemblymen in Kelantan to defect when PAS held that state by a single majority between 2004-2008. That's fair play.

Anyway, the global economic meltdown has begun to wash on our shores. Some have just received their notice of termination. Many more will get theirs as factories close and companies cut back on their operations.

Many families will lose their home due to foreclosures and banks will collapse. Some banks and companies inevitably will be rescued with tax-payers money.

We need a steady captain in the form of a strong government to weather this storm. And everyone must do their part to see through the difficult times ahead. This needs concentrated and concerted effort. We can't do it if we are too busy politicking and pulling the rug under each other's feet.

Lets focus as a nation on how best to overcome the current economic turmoil. Lets play by the rules and let politics work itself out. Thank you.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Two PKR Exco Members Detained by ACA

It was on news flash today that Two Perak PKR state executive councillors and a former PKR state assemblyperson were among six people detained by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) yesterday and this morning.

Political affiliations aside, it is always a cause for concern when people's elected representatives are either arrested or investigated for graft. Let us allow the ACA to carry on its duties without fear, favour or out-side pressure. We should not be quick to jump into any conclusion on the guilt or innocence of those under remand. Let ACA complete its investigations and the accused have their day in court, if need be.

By right I should be gleaming with joy that PKR state excos had been arrested for graft. All these while it had been BN representatives.

But I am not!

I am disturbed by this piece of news as I would if any of my colleagues from BN had been arrested under a similar charge. I am just thinking about what this would do to the trust and hope of the people.

Surely it will erode the confidence they have on the entire political process and the ability of political parties to select candidates with integrity.

Of course there will be allegations of conspiracy and smears campaigns churned out by both sides. Some would ask how come these guys were so quick to put their hands into the cookie jar? (As if there is a cooling off period for such things!)

Leaving all that aside, we must drive home the point that politicians should not AND can not view being an elected representative as a ticket towards personal riches.

Enough is enough.

Political parties and the entire system must ensure that only those who are genuine to serve be given an opportunity. No longer should we stand-by and allow politicians to think that they can earn some side income beyond the reaches of the law.

The view that politics is a means to make money must change. Those interested in becoming rich quickly must look elsewhere and leave politics.

Whether this happens or not is ultimately in the hands of the people who send the message to political parties through their votes.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Wan Azizah; The MAN

My phone has been buzzing non stop today. It has been the same message all day. It is about YB Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail vacating her Permatang Pauh seat and Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim contesting there in a by-election. There is no talk other then this the whole day. Its on the TV, its on the radio, its on the internet, its on the facebooks, its on the phones and damn…., even my doctor is talking about it.

In all the excitement and the gearing-up for the “mother of all by-elections”, a few things just popped up in my mind.

First, the very obvious, Anwar is ‘sure’ of winning there in Permatang Pauh. I won’t bet against him in that seat. Nonetheless, immediately after the 12^th General Election, Anwar was so confident of winning in ANY by-election that he did not want any PKR MPs to vacate their seat to enable him to contest. According to him, the call was made based on principles.

He announced that he will contest in the first parliamentary seat that falls vacant ‘naturally’. Now, it takes a lot of gumption to contest in such a by-election as you can’t choose the battlefield or its timing. Probably it made a lot of political sense (and with it the political mileage) to portray such bravado on the wave of the GE12 victory.

However, if you had not been too caught up in listening but instead watched Anwar – he has always been a practical politician. He is contesting in a safe seat. Well done, some people get to keep their cake and eat it too.

Another issue that hangs over us is the timing of this ‘forced’ by-election. Anwar could have imposed a by-election on the nation at anytime after the expiry of his disqualification period. However, he has chosen to do it now, when the Police had just completed their investigations on allegation of sodomy and the Attorney General has yet to decide as to whether or not to charge him.

With this announcement, Anwar had upped the ante. Irrespective of whether the AG proceeds to charge him or close the file, the AG’s decision will be viewed as being politically motivated and magnified as such in view of the impending by-election. It’s a classic case of head you lose, tail I win. If the AG press charges, the government will be accused attempting to thwart Anwar’s political ambition and if he drop charges, the government will be accused of drumming up false allegation to being with.

Actually, I have transgressed from the main topic of my article. In a way, my diversion underscores the very point I am trying to make here. I started out wanting to talk about the woman behind the man, YB Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Not only was she the woman behind the man, she was also the woman in front, when duty summoned her to the forefront.

Despite our differing political affiliation, I have always admired her courage and fortitude as a person, a wife and a mother. From a simple wife and mother, she took on the mettle to form and lead a political movement and party. She had continued the struggle when the going was tough. She, more then anyone else in this world knows Anwar, the man. And she had always stood by him, no matter what. Now, she is stepping aside to let him step forward. This brings to mind the final lesson in Nelson Mandela’s 8 Lessons of Leadership - Quitting is Leading too.

Well Anwar has taken the lime light – yet again. Whilst everyone is in a frenzy over the coming by-election and the ‘heroic’ Anwar Ibrahim, I thought it would be good for us to be reminded of the true hero that held the fort for Anwar, his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Circus Comes to Town

The circus is back in town with the investigation of allegation of sodomy against Anwar. Oh boy, here we go again!

First of all this better not be a political conspiracy. If the Prime Minister gets even a hint of this, he should just haul up those guys and shoot them! Ok, that might be a little too dramatic and …unlawful.

The point is, the Prime Minister should expose anyone, no matter how high up or how close they are to him if there is a conspiracy to drum up these allegations. Besides being illegal and despicable, whoever that’s behind it (if at all there is a conspiracy) should be sent to the gallows for being outright stupid and unimaginative. A second sodomy charge when the trial for the first one was laughed at and was thrown out on appeal? Who are we kidding here?

Frankly, it is a scenario that the Prime Minister could well do without right now. It is as tight and dangerous as walking a political tight-rope as it gets.

This second allegation of sodomy against Anwar could either break the ruling government or the self proclaimed ‘Prime Minister in Waiting’. The stakes could not have been higher. More then Anwar, it’s our Police Force, Judiciary, Attorney General’s Office and the Government that is on trial here.

On this score the people have already judged that there could be a conspiracy. Not only must Anwar be investigated, charged and convicted beyond reasonable doubt; he must be convicted beyond ANY doubt. Anything less, will set off PKR’s PR machinery into frenzy to turn the table against the government. And they have already started.

That is why it is inevitable that the government handles this case delicately and with utmost care. The police must not only be fair but must also be seen to be fair. Every procedure and every rule must be followed to the dot. Anwar and his army of lawyers are waiting to pounce on every technicality.

On the other hand, there is this Complainant that has lodged a police report against Anwar. Pray that he does not do a ‘Bala’ on us all on this one. Although he might have been a ‘consenting adult’, he had sought the ‘protection’ of law and ‘wants’ justice. Should he be denied ‘protection’ and his day in court just because the person that he is complaining against is the self proclaimed ‘Prime Minister in Waiting’?

If Anwar is convicted of the charge after due process of law, PKR and his supporters must accept the verdict and go on with their business without demonstrations and taking to the streets.

Enough is enough. We have seen what it is like when the circus comes to town. Let the due process of law take its course and let the institutions discharge their duties without fear or favour. At the end of the day, the integrity of the institutions and the due process of law matters more for the well being of this nation then any individual or political party, whoever it may be.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

PKR State Secretary Lost Confidence in Khalid as Selangor MB

Malaysiakini reported on 23^rd June 2008 that Selangor Menteri Besar's special officer Yahya Sahri was suspended for two months from official duties over his alleged abuse of power in awarding cleaning contracts.

It went on to report that the ACA is investigating the matter and Yahya's suspension comes just about two weeks after Khalid brushed off allegations that any of his top state officials were involved in graft.

The Menteri Besar was quoted saying that the ACA probe only showed that "we in PKR are more transparent in our dealings".

Yahya Sahri then resigned with immediate effect from being the MB's special officer as well as PKR's state secretary.

In his letter, which was faxed to Khalid's office, Yahya said that he had lost confidence in Khalid as the menteri besar.

He added that he would reveal his other reasons at a later date.

He also told his supporters that he wanted Khalid to step down as the state's PKR chief, to be replaced by the party's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

What amazes me is the spin that PKR had put on whole episode. Why is it when someone from BN is investigated by the ACA, its “look at how corrupt they are” but when someone from PKR is investigated its “we in PKR are more transparent in our dealings”?

If they had been transparent in their dealings, why then the need to brush off allegations in the first place?

Further, it is damaging to have PKR’s Selangor State Secretary declaring that he had lost confidence in Khalid as menteri besar. What confidence can the people place on the menteri besar if his very own special officer (who presumably knows the menteri besar better then the rest of us) has lost confidence in his ‘leadership’?

It is either the case of PKR's State Secretary playing the blame game upon being caught or the MB losing fast the confidence of his subordinates. In either case, it exposes PKR coming apart at its seams.

All this is happening within the first 100 days of PKR being in power! What happened to the promises of clean and transparent government, PKR? You rode to power on those promises didn’t you?

Well, promises are one thing, delivering on them is another matter altogether, PKR. Whilst you are learning this lesson, the people are paying for it, dearly.

Murugesan Sinnandavar