Sunday, June 12, 2016

Amanah Can Still Pull It Off


A Kadir Jasin


SINCE I am involved in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections campaign in support of the Amanah/Pakatan Harapan candidates, via the Deklarasi Rakyat, it is fair that I do not comment on it here.

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Thus I am grateful that the same member of the Kedai Kopi Assembly (KKA), who penned the last article on the Hadi’s Bill, is willing to pen another article on the by-elections.

Here is his commentary:

“ln the contest for Kuala Kangsar, the BN picked Mastura Mohd Yazid, the widow of the late MP. It’s obvious that BN is trying to fish for sympathy votes. Whoever suggested this must have thought of Mrs Bandaranaike, the widow of the assassinated Ceylonese PM.

During the campaign, the widow became known as the crying widow and won. But Bandaranaike was a big name in Ceylonese politics and his widow went on to become the PM and her daughter later became the President.

With due respect to BN’s widow, she is neither a local person nor a member of the Umno divisional committee. Worse still she can’t campaign because she is in the iddah period. Others have to campaign for her.  It’s not clear if UMNO Bahagian was consulted and they agreed on her candidacy. Before this, the big mouth Nazri Aziz said UMNO must choose a local candidate but since the announcement, he has kept his mouth shut.

The candidate can’t weep but Zahid shed tears when he announced her as candidate. We will see if sympathy swings votes.  PAS has too puts up a woman – a local a medical doctor - Najihatussalehah Ahmad.

Amanah, which is contesting on behalf of Pakatan Harapan, is represented by a nuclear scientist, Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli, who is the party divisional deputy chief.

ln Sungai Besar, PAS could not find a local member to  stand and imported a Hadi loyalist from Kapar, Klang. BN too has no suitable candidate and has to settle for a local state assemblyman. While PAS couldn’t find a local, BN couldn’t find an acceptable local candidate.

The UMNO divisional chief is not suitable as he is the leader of UMNO’s red shirt and no Chinese would vote for him. Would he sabotage his own party by asking his supporters not to come out to vote? Reports say his grilled fish business is not doing well and to survive, he has become close to the Najib’s wife.

Amanah, named a religious teacher Azhar Abdul Skukur who is the son of a former Umno MP. Amanah as a splinter of PAS has not been tested. If we study the history of splinter parties, it is very tough for Amanah more as since Amanah is being labelled by both Umno and PAS as DAP’s baby and DAP is seen as pushing Amanah to fight.

The PKR through Selangor Menteri Besar, Azmin Ali, tried to negotiate with PAS to give Sungai Besar to PKR and PAS concentrates on Kuala Kangsar.  Except for Hadi, the rest in PAS agreed. Many believed that Hadi had done a deal with Najib. The motion to move Hadi’s private member’s bill to amend the Kelantan lslamic Enactment is the result of co-operation between the two leaders. It was Najib’s attempt to divert attention from 1MDB and this RM2.6-billion “Arab donations”.

The last few days, the media has only been reporting on the threats from non-Muslims BN members to resign and those from Sarawak not supporting. They complained that the matter was never brought to cabinet or the BN for discussion. One Minister claimed that Zahid mentioned it in cabinet.

Was 1MDB brought for discussion in cabinet by the PM when it was established? Was debt of RM42 billion and now gone up to over RM50 billion discussed?  Why didn’t these cabinet Ministers question Najib?  Why didn’t they support Muhyiddin when he questioned Najib on 1MDB? Where is your credibility?

PAS has made it clear the motion is for the by-elections and Hadi thanked Putrajaya for it.  PAS’ youth leader said this would help PAS in the by-elections.  Hadi is now back as a ‘hero’ to PAS members.

In Kuala Kangsar, the four-way fight gives the BN an edge even when its candidate can’t campaign.  It’s not likely Chinese will vote PAS even if they are not happy with BN. The fight will be for Malay votes and Amanah will take away PAS votes and gives victory to BN. Even a 15-per cent swing against BN will not result in its defeat.

It is different with Sungai Besar. If Azmin had succeeded in persuading PAS not to contest, PKR has a good chance.  PKR is the government in Selangor and Azmin can campaign on behalf of the candidate and he will brings issues like 1MDB and donation and he knows the local issues.  PKR will have a better chance of winning.

PAS can’t produce a local candidate and Amanah is not prepared to put a heavyweight, the BN’s chances improve. Other than right candidates, the opposition has to realise that the campaign is in the month of Ramadan when the ceramahs could be held mostly at night and issues like the 1MDB crimes, the mismanagement of the economy and the perversion of the laws have to be explained in simplest possible language for the people to understand.

The opposition, because of disunity and always thinking of their vested interests, will find it very tough to beat BN. It’s time that they really sit down and agree that their priority is to beat BN and they can’t achieve that unless they are united.  If opposition parties learnt nothing from the recent Sarawak election, they will never succeed.

To the Umno, its members and supporters, the key word is “raya” (celebration). Plenty of “duit raya” is being given out.

Announcements have been made of more development. I wonder where the money is going to come from. Government has no money. It has cut scholarships and other social expenditures but the First Lady continues to travel in style.

Amanah has a hope of pulling it off for Pakatan Harapan but it has no money and machinery to match the BN. Its candidates have to be aggressive in the next faw days exposing Najib’s corruption and economic crimes involving 1MDB, Tabung Haji, Felda, the GST and many more if they hope to win.

19 comments:

Fendi Ahmad said...

Doa kami untuk pejuang Deklarasi Rakyat.

Cukup geram apabila TV3 asyik ulang sebutannya sebagai Deklarasi Mahathir-Kit Siang !

Geram juga Buletin Utama, Ahad 12 Jun sewaktu liputan pemergian Arwah Tan Sri Dollah Kok Lanas langsung tidak sebut Tun M sebagai antara kenamaan yang turut melawat jenazah. Tun Lah disebut. Tapi ada gambar menunjukkan kelibat Tun M hadir. Pak Lah siap diberi ruang komentar walhal bukankah Pak Lah terlibat dalam "pemecatan" arwah di NST dahulu ? Tiba-tiba baik belaka semuanya !

Aku said...

Kadiag, salaam.

Hang tulih :
'SINCE I am involved in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections campaign in support of the Amanah/Pakatan Harapan candidates, via the Deklarasi Rakyat, it is fair that I do not comment on it here.'

Pasai apa pulakkk..?

Hang buboh saja lah... kalu hang risau tak belaku 'adil ka apa ka, hang tulih awai2 kat 'intro', hang pro sapa ka sapa ... supaya pembaca siang2 tau, tu pon kalau depa belom tau.

Member hang yg tulih komen panjang lebag, mat bin saleh kata 'quite a mouthful'tu ada munasabahnya. Memang secara sejarah, pati pembangkang lelah nak menang PRK. Hang pon maklom, senjata depa paling ampuh selain hulog fulus, benda2 dan janji projek tu projek ni (basa 'generic' hang 'dedak' kod), ialah guna kemudahan dan tenaga kerja kerajaan. Munkin ke arah ni, siang2 lagi anak Rahah bagitau nak naikkan 'imbohan' kad pekerja 'Kemas'. Kalu di Filipina dan Amerika, depa sebut ni sebagai 'pork barrel' politik atau politik kawah daging khinzir. Tak salah ingatan aku, almarhum TGNA pernah ada kata (bila benda ni belaku), SPR ka SPRM ka, jeling pon dak.... Duit yg dia belanja ke arah ni pulak, ramai orang tau bukan duit mak bapak dia punya....

Bersandag 'senario' ni sebagai satu yg pasti atau 'given', nampak gaya lawan kali ni munkin hanya pada tahap AMANAH lawan PAS saja. AMANAH kena tumpu ajag PAS ni cukop2. Kemunkinan tak paedah jugak, pasai nampak kebanyakkan pimpinan PAS macam dah tak dak dlm 'learning curve'. Melainkan dua2 doktor perubatan PAS yg bertanding di dua2 PRK ni tarek diri dan seru penyokong depa supaya sokong AMANAH.

Munkin hampa dlm Deklarasi Rakyat bulih usaha sesuatu ke arah ni... kalu tak dapat dua2, dapat sorang pon, bulih kira 'kau' jugak. Depa ni biasanya tinggi IQ, bulih kata jugak 'celik' agama, dan besag kemunkinan sedag bahaya cenderong pada yg dzolim dlm isu2 seperti beban hutang 1MDB, SRC International, duit tabung Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen, pemborosan tahap lucah pompuan tu (na'uzubilah), GST dan kesan cukai ni pada rakyat dan macam2 lagi.... dudok pejuangan depa lantaran bukan satu lawan satu, tak dapat tidak, memang nak bagi menang BN.

Tarik diri memang la satu pengorbanan besag, tapi nak buat lagu mana, keadaan dan masa menuntut macam tu... dan insya'Allah akan di ambik kira Maha Pencipta dan sebagian besag makhlukNya, pada pikiag aku la yg memang dhoif ni.

Maghap Kadiag no.

Aku

sukasamasuka said...

Datuk.

1. Oppositions lost in Sarawak had nothing with disunity. Young opposition leaders from West Malaysia talked down the Sarawakians as if the latter owed them everything from the right to enter the state to "educate" the locals about customs and religions. This stupid behaviors will never go down well with the local voters. If anyone still believe that, Sarawak should behaves like any state in West Malaysia, then it might as well you dig your own grave. It will never be in the next 50 years...perhaps even more! By the way why should they behave like West Malaysian?? Call whatever names you like...it does not matter to Sarawakians.

2. We read politics from the eyes of UMNO and BN. We like to think oppositions must behave like UMNO....like component parties in BN. That model is no longer functioning. It was 50-60 years ago.

3. Does it really matter who is the future PM of Malaysia if the future Government can abolish GST when GST affects everyone from the hardcore poor to the very rich across racial boundries?

4. Does it really matter who is the future PM of Malaysia if the future Government can formulate new economic packages to reduce unemployment, help the poor with new skills, better educational opportunities without PTPTN etc?

5. Does it really matter who is the future PM of Malaysia if the future Government can reduce corruption, like Indonesia, China, Singapore, Japan to name a few?

6. Can the new Government offer a mid-term election review to remove corrupt and incompetent PM and its Cabinet?

7. Can the new Government tell us how they are going to reform IGP, AG, MACC, BNM, JAKIM, GLCs?

If the current oppositions can not agree on common-sense plans on how to manage Putrajaya...my suggestion is you all can go home and cook rice!

Anonymous said...

If the Malay vote is evenly split between UMNO and PAS, PAN might just win it on the back of total support for them and the DAP from the Chinese. Wouldn't be a disaster if that happened. It might just be the wake up call that the Malays need and the catalyst for genuine cooperation between UMNO and PAS in the next GE.

eri said...

janda tu tercalon tuk bukak jalan kpd mak badak naik jadi PM....kalau janda tu menang jgn terkejut kalau sminggu lepas tu org jumpa bugis warrior dlm tong siap bersemen n mak badak pun boleh la diangkat kd PM sebagai mewarisi dan menyambung perjuangan laki dia menyamun harta negara...

Waghih said...

Datuk ,

You sound like you have lost confidence on the Pan candidate and PH grouping .

Well , i think you should and not surprising .

Things are not getting well since the day Tun M open his big mouth attacking our PM DSN .

Everything that came out from him was proven to be a lie .
Latest S'pore MAS says WSJ was lying .
WSJ got their info from Tun M .
So Tun M was acknowledged by S'pore as a lier .

It is good that you have reservation on the integrity on PH group . That include those folks in DAP , PKR , PAN and the ANC gang .

Looking at the dark cloud ...

Waghih.

Mustapha Ong said...

Salam DAKJ,

You have written a long and mind blogging story about the two by-elections and what's going on upfront as well as behind the political scenario. There are some aspects I agree and others maybe not thinking on the same wave line with you. Yesterday, after paying our last respect to the late Dollah Kok Lanas, we sat down to dabble in some serious political talks after Tun Mahathir left Dollah's house in Lorong U-Than. Mahathir is indeed a loner and nobody wants to strike a conversation with him after he offered his Al-Fatihah to the late Dollah Ahmad. Some of the guests just moved away, but some shook his hands to show respect for this old Statesman who is under tremendous duress and pressure.

It's good that PM Najib keeps his cool but TPM Dr Zahid Hamidi is feeling restless and annoyed with Mahathir's head hunting for Najib. Zahid is also in a fix as he is also the Home Minister who holds the final decision to discipline Mahathir. Arresting Mahathir is out of our mind as it will explode into more problems and issues for the BN government, Najib and Zahid. We are truly in a political nightmare, not withstanding whether Mahathir is senile or otherwise..Melayu nak bunuh Melayu! UMNO/BN jadi mangsa politik songsang!

dt rahman pekan said...

In Malaysia d party wth d most resouces always wins especially in by elections.
that is what is happening in kk n sb. however if UMNO/BN receives less than 50% of d votes, than I consider it as a moral defeat.

on another note, it was quite comical 2 c ds zahid's response when asked abt d rm 230m.

it was in fact revealed in a cabinet meeting in 1998. we got 2 know it in our regular weekly post cabinet meeting. i reckon it was collected n collated by d join efforts of d sb, research div n mi.

Kojore said...

Tu la. Bila meninggal semua nak mengaku kawan. Masa tengah hidup tak ada siapa pun peduli. Arwah Dolah Kok Lanas dulu tak sampai setahun jadi bos NST (2002-2003). Tup tup bila Pak Lah took over dari Mahathir, terus dia dapat marching order..

Zalman A said...


"The opposition, because of disunity and always thinking of their vested interests, will find it very tough to beat BN. It’s time that they really sit down and agree that their priority is to beat BN and they can’t achieve that unless they are united. If opposition parties learnt nothing from the recent Sarawak election, they will never succeed."

Datuk,

There are some bitter lessons coming up for them in these 2 by-elections.

Number 1, the selfishness and paranoia of Anwar Ibrahim will always ruin PKR, even on the eve of an important by-election. Anwar's agenda is always Anwar. Always.

Number 2, the DAP must learn when not to be too Chinese. All these silly banners and leaflets, all in Chinese, prove they are only trying to appeal to one race.

Number 3, a headless chicken never wins anything. Wan Azizah is incapable, hence there is no strategy and no direction. Just three parties doing their own thing.

Only the skill of the experienced Tun and TSMY and Shafie can plan and co-ordinate. For GE14 (may Allah swt grant Tun a long life) the fight must begin with the Umno grassroots, and nowhere else.

PKR, DAP and PAN must realise that they do not have a hold on rural and semi-rural voters; not yet, in PAN's case.

There will be lessons to be learned.

And improvements to be made.

Zed-85 said...

Sallam Dato'

Oleh kerana PAS tidak banyak modal hendak berkempen dan sekarang sedang berbaik dengan BN, hujah orang islam berdosa tidak mengundi PAS digunakan.

Saya teringat satu ketika, saya sedang makan malam, datang seorang yang pakai jubah dan kopiah memberi sallam dan meminta sedekah.

Oleh kerana saya sedang makan, saya tidak memberikan derma. Peminta sedekah yang meminta derma itu marah kerana saya patut berikan sedekah kerana dia pakai jubah dan memberikan sallam.

Ini sama juga dengan PAS.

Pengundi sudah berikan mandat kepada PAS untuk tadbir Terenggganu dan Kedah tapi PAS malas buat kerja.

Dalam Pakatan Rakyat sebelum ini, telah banyak kali diberitakan orang PAS tidak hadir mesyuarat.

Di Parlimen, yang lebih ketara berbahas untuk rakyat di Parliman adalah DAP dan PKR dan bekas ahli Parlimen PAS seperti Khalid Samad dan Mohd Hatta yang sekarang menjadi Amanah. Ahli PAS yang lain duduk diam sahaja.

Saya berpandangan adalah tidak berdosa untuk orang Islam tidak mengundi orang yang malas dan tidak ada kebolehan membuat kerja kerana ini akan menyebabkan kesusahan kepada rakyat.

A KADIR JASIN said...

1.At the outset I said this is not my article. 2. This article was written by a participant of the Kedai Kopi Assembly. 3. As for Tun I think he did not join in a political babble because he doesn't engage in babble and also the occasion wasn't right for babbling. Thank you.

Nenekghuffran said...

Salam Datuk AKJ...mohon laluan

Kepada Waghih...
Engkau ni mengigau ke atau mabuk dedak ? Kau tunggulah berita lanjut dari Singapura bila kes pegawai bank yg kena dakwa tu dibicarakan....nanti...

Ha...Najib... mana mau lari ? Jgn tinggalkan si waghih tu.. nanti dia jadi sasau tak dapat dedak...

Mujahid said...

Umno menjadi mangsa politik songsang yang disebut oleh Tuan Mustapha Ong itu ialah kerja Najib, seorang Perdana Menteri yang mengaku memiliki RM2.6 bilion dalam akaun peribadinya. Dr Mahathir sekadar seorang doktor yang sedang cuba merawat pesakit yang sudah kanser parah itu.

RD. said...

Terima Kasih Dato Rahman JPC.

Sekarang baru saya sedar mengapa Zahid kata, dia takut orang akan ingat Dr.M sudah senile (nyanyuk) bila Tun banyak bercakap. Rupanya Tun mengungkit bahawa Zahid bernilai RM230 juta pada 1998.

'Demi Rakyat', nampaknya hanya rhetoric. Demi-Najib rupanya.

Waghih said...

Folks ...

Tun doesnt babble because he saw his days are coming ... dark cloud hanging on his head .

Abang Din ,too busy with private life .

Shafie fellow ,,has been making wise move ... by being quiet and supporting govt from behind the scene .

There you are folks , everything is falling in place nicely in this holy month .

Waghih.

Tok Buntar said...

So, in 1998,Tun M knew DS Zahid has RM280mil. So, what has Tun M done about it? He was the PM then. Did he investigate or close one eye? Why make an issue now when did not do anything when he could have done something.

sri tribuana said...

Exactly. Everything falling in place! IPIC now demand 1mdb pays 6.5b in London.

Mustapha ong said...

Salam puasa DAKJ,

Orang kuat penyokong Tun Mahathir memang tegas dan cakap benar...the real truth nothing but the the Truth! I was there in Kuala Kangsar and Sq. Besar for few days too. People have the same impression that Tun M should showed up as not all PAS, DAP and AMANAH supports Tun. The opposition could have won at least Kuala Kangsar had Tun didn't appear at the campaign ground. Sg. Besar was solidly behind the BN candidate Budiman and Supported by TPM. It's liken to a Bandar Jawo....lest you forget Zahid Hamidi is ada Javanese himself....I mean Jawo!

About Me

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I was born in 1947 in Kedah. I came from a rice farming family. I have been a journalist since 1969. I am the Editor-in-Chief of magazine publishing company, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd. I was Group Editor NST Sdn Bhd and Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP Bhd between 1988 and 2000. I write fortnightly column “Other Thots” in the Malaysian Business magazine, Kunta Kinte Original in Berita Harian and A Kadir Jasin Bercerita in Dewan Masyarakat. Books: Biar Putih Tulang (1998), Other Thots – Opinions & Observations 1992-2001 (2001), The Wings of an Eagle (2003), Mencari Dugalia Huso (2006), Damned That Thots (2006), Blogger (2006), PRU 2008-Rakyat Sahut Cabaran (2008), Komedi & Tragedi-Latest in Contemporary Malaysian Politics (2009) and Membangun Bangsa dengan Pena (2009).