Reflection on 2008: Year of Hope & Change

As I celebrated Christmas and reflected on 2008, I can’t help but be drawn to the renewed hope and change for our nation, when the three major opposition parties comprising of PKR, DAP and PAS won 82 of the 222 parliamentary seats that was at stake during the March 8 General Elections. This was a major breakthrough considering the odds stacked against the opposition parties, where the three M’s of money, media and machinery of the Barisan Nasional (BN) were at full strength, thinking that the chosen date of March 8 would bring them prosperity, but it turned out to be an electoral disaster as they lost 5 states to Pakatan Rakyat.
Why it was considered a renewed hope and change for Malaysia, was not because BN lost 5 states, but it was because Malaysians woke up to the reality of greater democracy, transparency, public accountability and social justice (over and above race-based politics of BN). This is a giant step after 51 years of solid BN rule, where we can finally put to rest the ghost and trauma of May 13, 1969, which has often been abused by the ruling coalition as a scare tactic in every general election.
Christmas is a message of hope, peace and change for a better future. 2008 was indeed a celebration of hope and change. The denial of 2/3 majority was a blessing in disguise, despite Anwar’s failed attempt to take over the Federal Govt through cross-overs. However, the point was that the people have spoken loud and clear, that no one is indispensable, and that they should be reminded to serve the rakyat, especially the poor and marginalised, regardless of their race and status in society.
However, it is sad to note that 2008 has again been hounded by the politics of the 3R’s of race, religion and repression. The first R of racial politics has continued to rule the landscape, with UMNO championing the concept of Ketuanan Melayu, instead of Bangsa Malaysia, which has become alien to them. The second R is religion, where UMNO has continued to declare that Malaysia is an Islamic State, but not a secular state with Islam as the official religion of the land. The protest at the Bar Council premises in holding the Forum on Conversion to Islam is a case in point, where discussion on the legal aspects of such conversion continues to be heated and sensitive without regard to rationality and maturity in the interest of nation building and freedom of expression. UMNO leaders have chosen to stifle freedom of expression with regards to religious discourse in building national unity and mutual understanding by declaring that Malaysia is an Islamic State. The third R is repressive laws such as the ISA, the OSA, the Police Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Sedition Act which has continued to suppress legitimate dissent and such repressive laws has been abused by those in authority to selectively prosecute those considered to be a threat to BN’s interest, rather than in the interest of national security.
Malaysians must continue to strive for change in 2009, with renewed hope and vigour, lest we become complacent with the results of March 8th. Politicians from across the political divide should set aside their differences and work towards respect, reform and restoration in building a united Malaysia with a common vision of being a developed nation by 2020. To achieve this end, our political leaders should respect the rule of law and the Federal Constitution in protecting the rights and freedoms of all Malaysians. The Federal Govt should also respect human rights issues and not discard them and hide behind repressive laws to save their political skin.
The government must work towards reforming the judiciary and advancing its agenda by the setting up of an independent Judicial Appointments Commission that will involve all stakeholders in the justice system, and not those with vested interests. Real reform can only take place with an independent and impartial judiciary. This is the key organ of government, where judges of integrity will protect the ordinary man on the street against the excesses of government. The Courts are tasked with protecting the poor and the marginalised, even if it means incurring the wrath of the Federal Govt.
There should be restoration of trust of all Malaysians irrespective of race and religion by our political leaders. By restoring that trust, we can unite all Malaysians and rebuild the country based on the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. For example, the use of draconian measures in detaining HINDRAF leaders under the ISA only invokes distrust in the minds of the Indian community towards the government of the day. This is because the ISA is itself an act of aggression against citizens who are unarmed, especially to the group who consider themselves marginalised. Should we not hear them out and resolve their grievances in the spirit of democracy and Bangsa Malaysia?
If we can take the above in the right spirit of true reform, through respect for human rights and restoration of justice for the poor and marginalised, can we then really dream of hope and change in removing the negative influences of the politics of the 3R’s of race, religion and repression that has been abused by the ruling BN to safeguard their vested interest at the expense of national unity through Bangsa Malaysia.

Big Fuss Over Race Again

I am indeed baffled that once again Malaysians are still divided over the skin colour issue. We were reminded once again at how racial issues are such a big thing in Malaysia and not economic issues. I wonder where are the priorities of Malaysians these days.

Do we have a Prime Minister who is a Malay? If that is not enough, what is the problem of having a non-Malay Malaysian as the acting GM of PKNS? Is Selangor only consists of Malays in the State? I wonder what happen to the other races? If this is not racial discrimination, then I don't know what is.

Maybe PKNS staff should need a reminder that this corporation is set up to develop the state of Selangor to look after the interest of all Malaysians living in the State, irrespective of their race.

To say that Loh Siew Moi cannot have rapport with the staff seems to be preposterous, as even the Menteri Besar has stated that she is the right person for the job. Are we saying that it's perfectly alright to overlook one's capabilities based on their skin colour?
If that being the case, then Bangsa Malaysia is merely a fantasy. I wonder what is the point of having a Race Relations Act, if this controversy were to go on.

Race Relations Act for racial harmony?

I refer to the proposed Race Relations Act which has been approved by the Cabinet to strengthen ties among the different races in the country.

Does the Act proposed create opportunities for Malaysians to explore and appreciate their differences and develop bonds among different ethnic and religious communities? After 51 years of BN rule, we have finally proposed a Race Relations Act to strengthen racial ties. This proves that the BN govt led by UMNO has been an utter failure in promoting racial harmony in Malaysia, even after the May 13 racial riots in 1969, we seem to have not learned anything, but have continued to go around in circles in trying to achieve national unity of all races.

It has been rightly pointed out that certain politicians have been the cause of racial disharmony. But in Malaysia, we have cases of the innocent being made scapegoats and conveniently detained under the ISA, while the ones who instigated it have gone scot free.

Having the Race Relations Act may not solve the fundamental issues at hand. It all boils down to our education system. A good education system must nurture in its students a desire to live in peace with people of different colour or creed, and to contribute to national unity. A multi-racial society like Malaysia, this is of vital and continued importance, but we still have cases where a mere suggestion by Tan Sri Abdul Khalid to open up UITM to a small percentage of non-Malays, have been met with vehement protests by students bordering on racial intolerance

When Malaysia experienced the racial riots in 1969, we faced a multitude of challenges to foster national unity, such as having the Rukun Negara and even the concept of Bangsa Malaysia during Dr. Mahathir's time.

But under Pak Lah's current tenure, we have failed to hear the concept of Bangsa Malaysia, but what we hear is 'Ketuanan Melayu' and the emphasis on Malay unity rather than Malaysian unity.

We have failed to respect other races and have failed to appreciate our unique qualities of being primarily Malaysian first, and our race as being secondary. BN's divide and rule policy have contributed to all this state of disharmony and disunity.

In conclusion, each of us, young or old, must play our part to maintain and improve racial harmony in our schools, universities, neighbourhood and public places. We cannot depend on the Race Relations Act alone to ensure racial ties are strengthened.
It all stems from our failed current education system and UMNO's politicians are the last people on earth who should be involved in the drafting of the proposed Act, as they should take 100% of the blame for the current poor race relations in Malaysia.

Fed up with UMNO's racial politics

We have a bunch of thugs ruling the country and using the ISA for their selfish ends to stay in power. Only cowards like them will use the ISA to silence rational dissent. Even Malaysiakini has reported that the United States has summoned the Malaysian ambassador to record its concern for the crackdown, which is an affront to human rights and democratic freedoms.

They are no different from other dictators like Adolf Hitler and his Nazis, who manipulate racial issues to work up sentiments, just like in the Ahmad Ismail saga.

We the rakyat are fed up with UMNO's racial politics. This nonsence of racial and religious politics must stop at once!!!! Hidup Reformasi !!!! Hidup Rakyat!!!!!

It's time Pakatan Rakyat do something about this nonsense once and for all and take over the Federal Govt. The BN govt is unfit to lead the country to greater heights, as all they care about is Hidup Melayu, instead of Hidup Rakyat!

Pak Lah should step down immediately, as there are even rumblings within his own cabinet, about his planned transition which is too long in 2010. He is taking the country further into the abyss of self destruction through racial and religious politics. Is Ahmad Ismail running the country, or is Pak Lah running the country? Why do we allow a thug like Ahmad Ismail get away with a three year suspension, while the rest get crucified for his sins, by being detained under the ISA.

Why is Teresa Kok, a wakil rakyat for thousands of constituents be made a threat to national security, when a thug like Ahmad Ismail who opened his mouth about the Chinese being squatters can get away with it? This is disgraceful and shows the double standards of UMNO and its ilk of arrogant racists politicians.

It all bears resemblance to Operasi Lallang in 1987, when even the innocent were made scapegoats and detained under the draconian law. This is the most shameful and disgusting episode of UMNO's racial politics and their strategy to pit the races against each other to safeguard their stupid interest for the sake of Malay unity, rather than Malaysian unity. Racism and religious extremism have reared its ugly head through UMNO, a failed racist party, desperate for survival in the fast paced globalized world.

Sept 16 A Public Holiday?

Anwar Ibrahim turned on the pressure on Barisan Nasional with his Putrajaya crusade by announcing that Pakatan Rakyat-held states plan to observe the annual Malaysia Day on Sept 16 a public holiday and celebrate the day like their East Malaysian counterparts.

The opposition leader said the public holiday would strengthen the solidarity between Malaysians in the Peninsular and those in Sabah and Sarawak.

While Aug 31 signifies then Peninsular Malaya’s freedom from British colonial masters, he pointed out that the Malaysia Day marks the birth of this country with the merger of Malaya with Sabah and Sarawak.

Anwar said, “We will show that no one would be sidelined, isolated or discriminated under Pakatan Rakyat rule,” the PKR de facto leader told some 2,000 people at the Seberang Jaya agricultural expo site, Penang.

He later said that he would bring the Sept 16 public holiday proposal to Pakatan-held states.

However, when Pakatan takes over the federal government, the coalition plans to make Sept 16 a national holiday, but this will only take place next year.

Anwar has set Sept 16 as the dateline for him to take over the federal government with a help from more than 30 defecting BN parliamentarians, especially from Sabah and Sarawak.

Currently, BN now has 140 MPs against Pakatan’s 81 MPs.

Anwar announcement on the unprecedented Malaysia Day celebrations in the Peninsular is likely to further undermine the credibility of BN federal government and lure East Malaysian MPs to hop over to Pakatan Rakyat. The announcement expressly implied that the federal government had ignored and neglected the importance of Sabah and Sarawak since states in the Peninsular do not mark the day with a public holiday.

This has exposed the deeply-rooted grouses among Sabahans and Sarawakians of “being treated like stepchildren in the nation-building process by BN”.

Anwar is certainly capitalising on it to show to East Malaysian political leaders that a Pakatan federal government would treat them equally.

The way forward now is for Anwar to be the next Prime Minister to realise the Malaysian dream of a just Malaysia, without recourse to racial politics, where every Malaysian citizen, irrespective of race or religion is treated equally under the Malaysian sun.

(Adapted from source: Malaysiakini)

Two issues facing the nation - religion and race

A brief report of the speech I made at the DAP National Congress at Crown Princess Hotel on 24 August 2008...(as reported in Mkini)

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Wakil DAP gesa PKR, PAS ambil tindakan
Jimadie Shah Othman | Aug 24, 08 5:07pm

PAS dan PKR diminta mengambil tindakan disiplin terhadap ahli-ahli mereka yang terlibat menghentikan forum “Memeluk Islam” anjuran Majlis Peguam yang mencetuskan pelbagai reaksi orang ramai.

Isu kontroversi itu muncul dalam ucapan perbahasan seorang perwakilan DAP yang menyambung perbahasan laporan setiausaha agung yang dibentangkan Lim Guan Eng semalam.

Perwakilan Bandar Lama Petaling Jaya, Ashwin Raj menyatakan kebimbangan terhadap tindakan beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Islam, Pemuda PAS dan ahli parlimen PKR Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim-Bandar Baharu) yang terlibat menentang forum itu yang berlangsung awal bulan ini.

"Alasan bahawa forum itu anti Islam tidak berasas. Selama 50 tahun, Majlis Peguam mempunyai ahli daripada pelbagai kaum dan daripada semua agama. Ini berpunca daripada unsur-unsur ekstremisme yang tidak faham bahawa Malaysia merupakan sebuah negara sekular," katanya.

"Kita (DAP) harus mendesak rakan dalam Pakatan PAS dan PKR supaya mengambil tindakan kepada mereka yang terlibat," kata Ashwin.

Beliau turut membangkitkan cadangan menteri besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim supaya Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) membuka ruang 10 peratus kepada pelajar bukan bumiputera.

Bandar Baru Petaling Jaya turut mengkritik Umno kerana menentang cadangan itu dan melabelkan parti itu sebagai "parti ekstrimis."

"Apa yang dikemukan hanya cadangan sahaja, hanya 10 peratus sahaja,” katanya.

Mempersoalan pengmalan di UiTM itu, beliau berkata:

"Saya tidak dikenali di negara kelahiran saya. Adakah ini menunjukkan golongan bukan bumiputera merupakan rakyat asing?" katanya.

Why the 'hate' in the protest?

I can't help but feel sad for the amount of hate in a country like ours where there seems to be no tolerance of a mature discussion on questions of law...It is certainly NOT an Anti-Islam Forum.

From today's Mkini report:

About 300 protesters have gathered outside Bar Council headquarters demanding that the lawyers group halt its controversial forum on ‘Conversion to Islam’ this morning.

The Bar Council today, adhereing to the advice of the police - and an angry mob at its doorstep - wrapped up its half-day forum on 'Conversion to Islam' at 10am, an hour after it had started.

Earlier about 300 protesters have gathered outside Bar Council headquarters demanding that the lawyers group halt its controversial forum on ‘Conversion to Islam’.

A leader of the protesters - PKR Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin - declared the abrupt end of the forum as a victory for them. By 10.40am, most of the protesters have dispersed.

The open forum on the sensitive religious issue kicked off at 9am but angry protestors have given organisers half an hour to cancel the event.

About 15 police officers and an Federal Reserve Unit truck have been deployed to the area and the road leading to the Bar Council office where the forum is held has been closed.

In the bid to diffuse the situation, the police have told Bar Council to wrap up its forum by 10am.

The protesters, many of whom are from Muslim welfare organsation Perkida and Islamic party PAS, shouted, “Hancur Bar Council” (Crush Bar Council), “Hidup Islam” (Long Live Islam) and “Batal forum” (Cancel the forum).

They are carrying placards saying “Jangan cabar Islam” (Don’t challenge Islam) and “Bar Council, Don’t play with fire”.

Among the protest leaders seen in the crowd are PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub and Zulkifli.

The protesters, many of whom came just before the forum began, later decided to sit down in front of the Bar Council building and vowed that they would not budge until the event had been cancelled.

Some threatened to storm the building to physically stop the forum.

One speaker pull out

Among the speakers at the forum was syariah lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla. Mohd Haniff represented the Federal Territory’s Islamic Religious Council in the case of R Subashini. K Shanmuga and Ravi Nekoo, who were counsel for Subashini and S Shamala, respectively, also spoke.

The forum is moderated by Zarizana Abdul Aziz of the Women's Centre for Change.

However, one speaker has pull out - former Syariah judge and currently the Federal Territory Islamic Department’s syariah prosecutor Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar.

'If consensual, why charge me only?' - Malaysiakini

Precisely the point. Why on earth is Saiful not being charged as well?? Isn't this an act of conspiracy and political persecution? If the act is consensual, surely it takes two to tango..not just one!!

This proves that Pak Lah and Najib have gang up to fight the threat of Anwar coming back to Parliament. It also proves to me and all Malaysians that they are a bunch of cowards..Sorry to say this but can't help it lah..

In the just announced by-election campaign in Permatang Pauh, the BN machinery will certainly come out with all guns blazing from August 16 onwards till August 26. It will be a shameful act of character assasination against Anwar, I dare predict, as they have become desperate enough to even charge Anwar out of nothing!! Where is the evidence?? Where is the police report by Saiful?? Where is the medical report??

This is most unbelievable, as the doctor from PUSRAWI has found NO evidence of sodomy hours before he allegedly made the report against Anwar. The doctor still stands by the report, and the doctor has shown great courage to stand by his report, despite the threats and pressure by the police.

Where on earth is Malaysia heading to? I wonder and pray that justice will ultimately prevail for the sake of our nation and future generations to come. 50 years of BN federal govt is enough to make many Malaysians puke at the amount of injustices and corruption going on...

Enough is enough, time to change the Federal Govt, they have lost all their morality to rule by their sheer arrogance, shamelessness in a sham trial, and lack of honour in charging an innocent man - DSAI.

Malay Unity or National Unity

I refer to the Sun report where MCA Youth Chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai was reported to have declared MCA's support for the UMNO-PAS talks. I find it retrogressive for him to state that MCA takes it with an open mind in an effort to unite the Malay community, and even urged the Chinese community to be united in support of MCA. This gives rise to parochial communal thinking and an old narrow mindset of racial politics.

As a Malaysian who believes in a social contract which is enshrined in our Federal Constitution and based on the notion that ‘all Malaysians are created equal’, I am indeed puzzled by his above statement. This is because it gives rises to the implication that Malaysians are still divided along ethnic lines and that communal politics continue to dominate the political scene, rather than National Unity in the first place.

The idea of Ketuanan Melayu as espoused by UMNO is going bankrupt, as the recent talks between UMNO and PAS seems to indicate they are desperate enough to go to that extent to salvage their waning support among the Malay electorate and to stem the tide of the Anwar factor. I dare say, if not for the losses suffered by UMNO in the recent March 8 Elections, where they lost 5 states to Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO would not have bothered having secret talks with PAS.

Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad’s caution against turning the dialogue into a racial issue completely misses the point. This is about putting national interest first and not party interest. All Malaysians irrespective of their race are stakeholders in the affairs of our nation, and that nation building should not solely belong to any one particular race or religion. Non-Malays are not foreigners in their own land, but that as a multi-racial nation, we should strive to achieve national unity and economic prosperity for all Malaysians, irrespective of their race, religion, status or political beliefs.

All Malaysians of rational minds must make a heart-searching reappraisal as to what they conceive to be Malaysia’s destiny. If it is the common hope that our destiny lies in a multi-racial nation, where there is no discrimination on the grounds of race, then the Malaysian dream of ensuring opportunity and security for all will become a reality, as there will indeed be national unity.

However, if there is no agreement on this fundamental issue, where we continue to harp on racial unity talks, instead of national unity, then clearly there is no will or determination to build a multi-racial nation, that is based on one common Malaysian dream or identity – Bangsa Malaysia.

Public Confidence in Police in Tatters

How to trust the police? To trust or not to trust, that is the million ringgit question. It's simple enough to understand the fears of Anwar that the DNA sample could be tampered with, considering the fact that the accuser, Saiful Bukhari Azlan is under police protection.

A DNA expert has revealed that a DNA sample could be kept for many years under optimal conditions, so why can't they use that? Another reason for the fear is that it would lead to fabrication of evidence just like what happened in the 1999 sodomy trial, when the proceedings saw the illegal removal of DNA samples from forensic custody and the "planting" of blood samples.

The disclosure of these incidents in court led to the expunging of the entire DNA evidence. It was a disgrace and a black mark in the impartiality of the whole proceedings. The DNA is merely corroborative evidence and not primary evidence, as pointed out by Anwar's lawyer, Sivarasa.

So the whole question now lies with the Police, are they going to be impartial, independent and professional in discharging their duties in respecting Anwar, and not treat him like the most wanted criminal in Malaysia, when they sent in a squad of balaclava clad commando style of arrest on Anwar long before the deadline in broad daylight. This is most despicable and shameful and has brought back memories of the shameful episode 10 years ago when the highest member of the police gave Anwar a black eye. Shameful because of the amount of human rights abuses inflicted on him.

By arresting him before the deadline, they have breached confidence and public trust in the police. If they can do this to him, I can't imagine what they will do to lesser mortals. Certainly, public confidence in the police is in tatters, when justice for Anwar is what matters now.

Don't be fooled the second time!

Malaysiakini has reported that Pakatan Rakyat believes that the police report made against Anwar Ibrahim is nothing more than a second political conspiracy just like in 1998, to finish off his political career.

I am simply amazed at the sheer desperation that anyone would do to smear the name of Anwar in the height of his political comeback in the aftermath of the March 8 political Tsunami. Which person would say that it is up to the police to investigate the serious allegation made against Anwar? Of course, I won't answer that question, because it's obvious that there are higher ups who would orchestrate such a move at such a time as now, because of Anwar's possibility of contesting in a by-election and thereby forming the new Federal Govt later on. These people are so desperate that they can't think of something more credible and believable. How would you expect a 61 year old man with a bad back holding a young punk who is 23 years old and is fit as a fiddle? It's unbelievable!

Certainly, the credibility of the BN govt has been tarnished in the eyes of the world. I managed to catch CNN this evening and was not surprised that CNN was not able to contact the govt for comment, but were able to contact Anwar and interviewed him over the phone. With much conviction in his voice, he charged that he was a victim of a second conspiracy against him, because of an agent being planted by the BN in PKR.

The process of nation building is interrupted by this shameful event of a political conspiracy to preempt the threat posed by Anwar in capturing the Federal Govt in crossovers. Calls for the police to be fair in its investigation can be a hollow one, what with the memory of Anwar's black eye in 1998 given by the IGP himself. My gut instinct is that I just don't trust the police. They are quick in investigating the opposition but slow in investigating the rich and powerful with connections to the BN.

The demand by Anwar to guarantee the security of him and his family is a reasonable one considering what he has gone through before in 1998. It's total rubbish and irresponsible for anyone to suggest that he should be brave enough and not hide in the embassy for fear of his safety.

My only prayer is that he will be safe. We need to save this country from tyranny and corruption. A sleeping PM with no concern for the poor rakyat by drastically increasing fuel prices overnight is not fit to be the Prime Minister. A PM who detains Hindraf lawyers without being charged in Court is a coward. A PM who shakes hand with the Chief Minister of Penang and assures that mega projects will not be affected is a snake, when he decided to scrap the monorail and PORR projects in the 9th Malaysia Plan review. Whether or not it's a blessing in disguise is not the issue. It only shows that he is a confirmed liar, as he has failed to consult the Chief Minister with regard to this projects.

All this proves that we are living in dangerous times and BN is ever so desperate and might once again control the media and institutions in this country to try to save their political skin.

Malam Himpunan Rakyat Anti-ISA

Salam Sejahtera kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.

Anda dijemput untuk menghadiri satu Malam Himpunan Rakyat Anti-ISA di Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam pada:

Tarikh: 28hb Jun 2008 (Sabtu)
Masa : 8.30 pm - 11.30 pm

Tema ialah "Malaysia bebas dari ISA"

Ada beberapa bekas tahanan ISA seperti YB Saari Sungib, Mohamad Sabu, Sivarasa Rasiah dan Lee Ban Chen akan berpidato pada malam itu.

Saksikanlah juga pelancaran T-Shirt Merah Hitam & Promosi Buku "Dunia Tanpa Suami 2" yang amat menyedihkan. Deklamasi Puisi dan persembahan multimedia juga akan memeriahkan lagi himpunan ini demi menegakkan keadilan dan melaungkan suara rakyat untuk memansuhkan ISA yang zalim ini.

MCA MPs to join Pakatan Rakyat?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed that several MCA MP's will join Pakatan Rakyat soon, according to Malaysiakini.

Anwar has kept the public guessing since the general election on March 8, with repeated claims of crossovers by Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarians, especially those from Sabah.

He said that discreet meetings have been held in Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore, to avoid scrutiny, and that “even a cabinet minister met me”.

At a rally held last night in City Stadium, George Town, the former deputy premier worked up the crowd with similar promises. “It’s about time that we take over. It’s only a matter of time for us to take over. We are so close to Putrajaya,” he said to roars of approval from some 30,000 people.

He stressed that defecting MPs would have to accept the Pakatan tenets of good governance. Anwar used the rally to obtain a ‘referendum’ on replacing the federal BN government and taking over as premier from Pak Lah.

He and other Pakatan speakers exploited the rising cost of living triggered by the fuel price hike, and lambasted the BN.

Anwar promised to bring down the fuel price if it captures the Federal Govt. He also said that BN is still in a state of denial over the electoral setback and has further betrayed the people’s trust with an unreasonable fuel price hike, and it has contributed to this through economic and financial mismanagement.

Saying that BN has run out of ideas in overcoming inflation, and that only Pakatan could save the country. “Let’s join force to topple this irresponsible government. If enough numbers support us (in Parliament), we will form the next government. The people of Penang must lead others in backing us for change to a better life,” said Anwar.

Hinting that Abdullah could dissolve Parliament in a sudden move to “save his skin”, he cautioned Pakatan leaders and members to be ready for a snap election. “We must fight to win till the end,” Anwar said.

What do you think? Will a snap election be on the cards this year?

Petrol price hike

There is the latest news that there will be a fuel price hike of 78 sen per litre from 5 June onwards. Cars of 2000 cc and below and all motorbikes will get annual rebates according to The Sun.

No wonder Pak Lah says to tighten our belts. But are the govt ministers going to tighten their belts too and declare their personal assets ? It's time to walk the talk, and not tell the people what to do. The price hike will definitely mean a spiralling effect on the economy of the country. So let's do what we can in being transparent and prudent in our spending, especially in travelling on the road.

Can Anwar do anything about increasing the subsidies to reduce petrol prices if he comes to power? Or is this a case of a worldwide oil price effect that we are experiencing now in the region. If fuel prices are increased to market levels, we will head towards inflationary pressures on the economy, and this will burden the consumers, especially the poor.

The fault lies with the Malaysian govt for their shortsightedness in the proper planning of our public transport system, especially in Penang. I think we should encourage Penangites in their island to go cycling like the Dutch!!

Interesting call from Param to arrest Dr M under ISA

From Malaysiakini:

Give former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad a taste of his own medicine by arresting him under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial.
This was the terse message from former top United Nations official Param Cumaraswamy in response to a speech Mahathir had made last week in Johor Baru.Param, the former UN rapporteur for the independence of judges and lawyers, alleged that Mahathir’s remarks in his May 17 speech “not only bordered on sedition but, applying his own standards, qualifies him for detention under the ISA”.

In his address to about 1,000 people in Johor, Mahathir had reportedly cited the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) group’s list of demands contained in a memorandum and asked if anyone knew the implications of those demands.“What does it say? Malaysia for Malaysians! This is the reality of the present situation. If we do not speak up, if we choose to keep quiet, we will lose our rights and the other races will take over” the Malaysian Insider news portal quoted him as saying.“When that happens, it will be like Singapore. Do you think we will still have control?” said Mahathir in his speech.While stressing that he himself was against the use of the ISA, Param said that “applying the principle of equality before the law” would dictate that the home minister consider invoking the ISA and detain Mahathir for his remarks “before he does further damage”.According to Param, he had written to Mahathir in December 1987 to inquire as to the reasons for the detention of his political opponents under the tough security law during ‘Ops Lalang’ crackdown.He needs ‘rehabilitation’ in KamuntingIn that operation, Mahathir had more than 100 political rivals and social activists detained and three newspapers shut down in the wake of a bitter split within his Umno party and tensions stirred up over the issue of Chinese education.“In December 1987, I wrote to Dr Mahathir when he was prime minister inquiring why he resorted to detention of his political opponents under the ISA.

His response in a letter dated December 2, 1987 was:‘If I have to resort to the ISA it is because I am forced to by the irresponsibility of those who do not appreciate my liberal attitude and seem bent on destabilising this country. My responsibility is towards the vast majority who feel threatened by the race-baiting indulged in by a frustrated minority unable to impose their thinking on this country.’”Recounting this, Param said if those persons were detained under the ISA during ‘Ops Lalang’ because they indulged in ‘race-baiting’ which Mahathir felt threatened the majority of Malaysians, then “the same criteria could now be applied to Mahathir for his speech in Johor”.“No longer able to impose his minority will on the government out of frustration, he appears to have resorted to racial tactics which could destabilise the country,” said Param.“A dose of his own medicine which he administered to the 106 (individuals) in 1987 should be in order to rehabilitate him in Kamunting (camp),” he added.

Time for Sabahans to go for change

Is Sabah ready to join Pakatan Rakyat? Some interesting statements so far with two outstanding examples:

1. “We (Sabah BN MPs) have never jumped. We can move by simply forming a new party. Then we can decide where we want to sit…here or there”, he said, gesturing in the direction of the opposition and backbenchers. – Datuk Seri Ghapur Salleh (MP for Kalabakan).

2. There is no harm in Barisan Nasional MPs in Sabah defecting to the Opposition. What’s the point of moving to a terrace house if one is already living in a bungalow? However, for some of us, there seems to be no pleasure in living in this bungalow. What’s the point of living in a bungalow if one has to sleep beside the toilet? - Datuk Anifah Aman (MP for Kimanis).

The winds of change is moving in the direction of the "Land below the Wind" to end over four decades of discrimination and marginalization of Sabahans in Malaysia.

Go Sabah, Go!!

Guan Eng's Press statement

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Convinces No One By Saying That The Government Is Liberal And That Sedition Charges Against Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin Is Not Politically Motivated When RPK Was Charged After Najib And His Wife Objected Against His Allegations Linking Them To The Altatunya Murder Trial.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak convinces no one by saying that the government is liberal and that sedition charges against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin is not politically motivated when RPK was charged after Najib and his wife objected against his allegations linking them to the Altatunya Shaariibuu murder trial. With RPK being charged so soon after both of them objected to so called slanderous remarks online, the public can not be faulted for thinking that these charges were a directed act of vengeance. On 2 May 2008 the Deputy Prime Minister’s press secretary Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad wrote in a letter to Malaysia Today that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will not hesitate to seek legal redress over unfounded and unfair allegations made against him in the case involving murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya. This follows Najib’s wife statement on 1 May against slanderous remarks against her. Despite such warnings of civil action of defamation, Najib has still not sued RPK who instead faced criminal charges of sedition.This latest infringement of rights may be the beginning of Barisan Nasional’s crackdown on media freedom. This will also set a frightening precedent against online expression that will further erode media freedom in this country despite promises by the BN government. DAP condemns the arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the editor of the internet news portal Malaysia Today, under the Sedition Act, and demands for his immediate release as well as withdrawal of charges. DAP hopes that all journalists and media associations can come out in solidarity and support for RPK by condemning RPK’s sedition charges.

We know that Raja Petra - who is charged with implying in a post on April 25 that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife were involved in the murder of a Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu - has been one of the vocal critics of the BN government and its cronies. On the same day the posting was made (April 25) Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the press that media freedom should not be feared by anyone, including the ruling party, as it could also be the source of strength for the government and the country. Ahmad Shabery even said that the reform announced by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently such as the setting up of a judicial commission and introducing an Anti-Corruption Commission could be implemented more effectively in a free media environment. Even Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar promised that he would review the country's repressive media laws to boost press freedom. “I have told my officers that I want to have a re-look at the Printing Presses and Publications Act so that we can move with the times,” he said, according to the Star on April 20. Syed Hamid went further when he said, “We need press freedom in order for us to have a check and balance in government. We are not trying to control you but we want everyone to contribute to the nation-building process. Why should we let ourselves (government) become unpopular by having such regulations?”

The sad truth about this deteriorating situation pertaining to our press and other media is due to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s too many promises which he failed to deliver since he became Prime Minister in late 2003. After the recent political tsunami on 8 March 2008, it is now proven that talk is cheap. Such empty promises also demonstrate that BN is not capable of reform, that BN can never accept criticisms and will always resort to repressive laws against the interest of the people. Another anti-freedom attitude displayed by BN leaders is when Najib yesterday (May 7) inferred that the Attorney-General can decide whether action can taken against DAP chairman Karpal Singh for questioning the transfer and reappointment of the Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIP) director. Malaysia is facing international condemnation and widespread public anger for charging RPK.

Najib is strongly advised not to apply the same tactics of sedition used towards RPK on Karpal who is the National Chair of DAP. When criticisms are perceived as threatening stability and public order, this means the BN government will never ever learn from the lesson of the March 8 political tsunami. While the voters are giving BN a second chance, its leaders are more interested in bullying the voice of conscience and the voice of the oppressed. DAP demands that BN government immediately stop harassing bloggers, journalists and federal opposition leaders and supporters who are merely acting as good citizens in exposing wrongdoings of government leaders.

Say No to Oppressive Laws!

I read with much scepticism of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s recent statement that he finds the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Official Secrets Act (OSA) unacceptable. He was quoted in The Sun on April 29 (p.8) as saying that he is against any unjust and harsh laws which includes the ISA and OSA.

However, this was contradicted by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who said that such laws will not be abolished, as they are needed for the purpose of maintaining public order. In such a scenario between two conflicting statements, what would be the public stand of the Prime Minister? Would he seek to abolish such oppressive laws in the newly convened Parliament in agreement with his own Minister in his Department? Or would he seek not to, in the interest of the Home Minister’s recent remarks?

I would certainly not be surprised if Pak Lah remains defiant in not wanting to abolish the ISA and OSA, as it had served to protect BN’s interest for the past 51 years after Merdeka. After all, he was the one who authorised the detention of the Hindraf activists and accused them on baseless grounds of being a threat to national security.

The opposition and the vast majority of the general public have long seen the ISA to be a notoriously oppressive law. In the name of national security, the ISA has been used as a convenient political tool that allows for indefinite detention without trial. The ISA is an obnoxious piece of legislation that has no place in a democracy.

Former detainees have published horrifying accounts of their detention under the ISA where they have been subjected to solitary confinement without access to family members, lawyers and friends. Police interrogators have routinely subjected ISA detainees to physical and mental torture in order to 'turn them over’.

All this amounts to human rights abuses and a barbaric treatment of individuals who have never been tried, let alone convicted, in an open court. These acts of injustices are an obscene affront to human dignity and a mockery of democracy. They violate the teachings of all religions in our nation, because it has demeaned human life.

The ISA is an unjust law, where its so-called legal practices represent a crime against humanity. As always, the 'threat to national security' has been a flimsy catch-all excuse for not charging and trying so-called suspects in open courts.

How do you expect the continued existence of the ISA to foster a reformed democratic society when this oppressive law looms as an ever-present threat over the lives and liberty of ordinary Malaysian citizens? True democracy cannot mature when people are being threatened with detention without trial.

The basic principle of natural justice is that the accused must be given the right to be heard must be unconditionally upheld. I therefore sincerely hope that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat will pressure the Federal Government in Parliament to immediately charge and try all ISA detainees in an open court or release all ISA detainees still incarcerated. Otherwise, there will not be any true legal reform as pledged by the Prime Minister, through the appointment of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to be the de facto Law Minister, as this will only be a mere rhetoric.

Will the ACA be independent?

I welcome the PM's statement that the ACA would become a fully independent body. But i must say that I am skeptical about the whole thing about his reform agenda. Will it be another Suhakam? Lacking in enforcement and political will, rather than a powerful body to catch the big fish and not just the small fishes.

It remains to be seen, how Pak Lah goes about in implementing his reform agenda. After so much talk at the Malaysian Bar Council of judicial reform. Will he walk the talk? Apologise to the sacked judges in 1988 ? Anything short of that, I will always remain skeptical and doubtful unless he means what he says through action. They say talk is cheap, but if he acts, he will win over the critics.

I bet the anti-corruption watchdogs are on the prowl, and will pounce on the slightest move by the Govt to compromise its stand on an independent ACA. The ACA must have full powers to investigate and prosecute the corrupt, notwithstanding the rich and powerful, without fear or favour. If it fails to deliver its promise, then Pak Lah must resign for not walking the talk of his reform agenda.

Black 14 Gathering

I must say that i was impressed with the crowd turnout estimated at 20,000 which filled the club's padang at Sultan Sulaiman at Kg Baru. The heavy police presence did not deter the crowd from turning up in full force.

I sat down on the grass field and listen to the various speakers from Keadilan. When it came to Anwar's turn to speak, it was an emotional welcome for this historic night, when he returned more like a victorious politician, rather than a defeated one.

To me, it was a night to remember for his supporters, where he did not disappoint with his mesmerising speech in slamming "Ketuanan Melayu" by UMNO but made a rallying call for "Ketuanan Rakyat", which was responded in a roar of approval.

It was certainly a night to cherish for reformasi and freedom.

Long Live the Rakyat !! Anwar to be the Prime Minister in waiting !!

A Greater Urgency for Pakatan Rakyat

The greatest urgency for Pakatan Rakyat is to quickly bring into

shape the substance of its liberal and pro-rakyat governance.

By Kim Quek

When former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad relentlessly lashes out at Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi for the disastrous electoral setback suffered by Barisan Nasional, does Mahathir realise that that he is in effect slapping his own face?BN was heavily punished by the electorate only because Pak Lah had failed to clean up the filth left behind by Mahathir. So, the latter is still the main culprit for having “destroyed UMNO and BN” - the very accusation he made of Pak Lah in an emotional outburst upon learning the election results.

For, was it not Mahathir who had perfected the art of dictatorial rule and transformed UMNO into a hegemonic power that has brought havoc to the country through massive corruption and abuse of power? Now that the people have grown wiser, they have emphatically rejected this corrupt hegemony, as demonstrated in the election results of Mar 8.Almost one month after the election, the leadership of UMNO appears to be still groping, unsure what exactly has hit them so hard. While Mahathir and his supporters are still merrily baying after the blood of Pak Lah, former UMNO vice president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) is frantically sounding the alarm bell that Malays are loosing political power, and yet other UMNO leaders are vaguely talking about “reforms”, “reinventing” or “strengthening” the party without being specific what these mean.

Perhaps the nearest to any policy response to this election came from Pak Lah himself when he delivered his first major post-election speech during the Investment Malaysia 2008 Conference on Mar 25. Pak Lah admitted his failure to fulfill reform pledges as major factor of the electoral setback and vowed to energetically renew reform efforts – on corruption, crime rate, judicial rot etc. However, his reform resolve was thrown into question when in the same breath he said his “biggest mistake” was to have failed to wage a successful cyber-war as the opposition did. This reminds us of the doubtful admission of guilt by former minister Chua Soi Lek who recently resigned in disgrace from the exposure of a video clip secretly taken of his sex exploit. Chua said his biggest mistake was the stupidity of using the same room every time he had a sexual roam with the girl.

IT'S MISMANAGEMENT, NOT INTERNET!Make no mistake, BN/UMNO is sunk due to atrocious mismanagement of the country, not due to the Internet, as the latter is only the messenger, not the message itself. If UMNO’s so-called reforms or rejuvenation or whatever you call is only the revamping of the long antiquated racist formula to run this country in this globalised age without genuine rehabilitation of the impaired democratic institutions, as it appears to be the case now, judging from the tenor of the present brewing rebellion, then the titanic is on course to meet the fateful iceberg.In fact, UMNO should realise that, the opposition was still seriously handicapped in the dissemination of information to the masses, as all local newspaper and TV channels had been monopolized by BN to belt out completely one-sided election propaganda.

If the media had been independent and truthful in their reporting, BN would have been erased from the political scene, considering the mountain of corruption and misdeeds that have been endlessly emanating from its leadership.Indeed, the first indication of the shakiness of Pak Lah’s reform pledges came when his so-called “reform cabinet” rejected de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim’s maiden attempt to initiate judicial reform. Entrusted by Pak Lah to spearhead judicial reform, Zaid had proposed to apologise to former Lord President Salleh Abas and other judges in the Supreme Court who were unjustly sacked in the 1988 judiciary crisis which has caused the collapse of judicial integrity in our judicial system, the duration of which has lasted to this day. No less than the second and third highest leaders in UMNO, namely Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had publicly slapped down on this Zaid initiative. So much, for Pak Lah’s renewed effort at reforms under the “rejuvenated” “reform cabinet”.

And so, Pak Lah’s call for reforms looks destined to remain a “voice in the wilderness”, in line with its similar destiny in his previous term of premiership.While there is no visible movement on the “reforms” front, actions seem aplenty in the camps that champion racial causes – presumably “revival” of Malay power through UMNO, with an apparent convergence of purpose between Mahathir and Ku Li. The latter is agitating for a party EGM and has declared his challenge for party presidency.KU LI'S RACIAL LOGICIt is pertinent to look into Ku Li’s line of thinking when he invokes the fear of “loosing political control to non-Malays”. He theorises that Penang, Perak and Selangor are already under non-Malay control. He arrives at this conclusion by numerically adding the non-Malays in PKR to those in DAP in the respective state governments.This narrow interpretation of racial power is both illogical and unhelpful in forging racial integration. First, a party member’s first allegiance is to the party (where members share the same ideology), not to his race. It is the policy of the party that determines the treatment accorded to the various races, not the racial identities of the officers executing the party policy, for a member that strays from party policy cannot survive within that party. Second, these state governments are ruled by coalitions of PKR, DAP & PAS, where none has won enough seats to govern alone. So, policy decisions are, by necessity, consensus under collective leadership.

In fact, Malays should be least worried of being marginalised under these coalition governments, for is it conceivable that PKR and PAS would allow Malays to be so treated?Ku Li has equated Malay power with UMNO, so in his logic, Malays loose political power when UMNO looses control of government. Why should it be so? Aren’t both PKR and PAS led and controlled by Malays? Is Anwar Ibrahim not a Malay? Is Hadi Awang not a Malay?Malays should logically be more worried about whether the elected government is good or bad, rather than whether the government is or is not UMNO-controlled.NEP AND MALAY RIGHTSPerhaps the issue that invokes the greatest concern among Malays is the NEP, which has come to be identified with Malay privileges. Admittedly, NEP had made considerable contributions towards uplifting the status of Malays in economic and educational field, particularly in the earlier stage, resulting in the creation of a respectable and sizable Malay middle class. However, as UMNO assumed increasing hegemonic power under Mahathir, NEP has degenerated into a gigantic camouflage for massive corruption and cronyism that sustain the political patronage system which in turn sustain the UMNO hierarchy with the party president and prime minister at the apex – a phenomenon we call Umnoputraism. The latter is now the plague of the country, causing the country to loose economic competitiveness while rule of law continues to slide.When Pakatan Rakyat – an alliance of PKR, DAP & PAS - proposes to do away with NEP, it actually means to discard Umnoputraism.

In place of NEP, a genuine affirmative policy known as the Malaysian Economic Agenda (MEA) will be implemented to uplift the economic and social status of those who are in such need, irrespective of race or creed, in an ambience of transparent and frugal rule that will surely revive investors’ confidence in this country.Malay confidence in Pakatan Rakyat should further be reassured by the avowed intent of the three component parties through their respective manifestos to uphold the Constitution, in which the special position for the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak is safeguarded under Article 153. There is no reason to believe that this status quo will change anytime in the future.PAKATAN RAKYATThe greatest urgency for Pakatan Rakyat now is to quickly bring into shape the style and substance of its liberal and pro-rakyat governance, as contrast to the BN’s self-enriching elitist rule.

The perception of the goodness of PR’s rule must be quickly and firmly established so that PR can face off with confidence any sudden political challenge that may erupt in this time of transition and fluidity of political power.In this connection, PR must follow through with determination its top-priority agenda of public declaration of assets of elected leaders, re-instatement of open and transparent tenders and legislative initiatives in judicial and electoral reforms and restoration of civil rights.The people have spoken loudly in the election of Mar 8. Has BN understood the message and possess the political will to make the necessary changes? Is PR up to the challenge to fulfill the people’s wishes? The people are keenly watching for answers in the months ahead.

Dramatic change of mind

In a dramatic turnaround, newly-elected Buntong state assemblyperson A Sivasubramaniam has retracted his resignation from DAP hours after he made the announcement today.

His sudden resignation would have affected the tenuous grip on power by the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition, giving it only a one-seat majority over the Barisan Nasional.

Sivasubramaniam's about-turn was announced at a hastily-organised press conference at 6pm in Ipoh. The above news from Malaysiakini is still a source of anger for me, in that racial politics is still kicking in Malaysia. We still fail to see ourselves as Malaysians first and foremost, and race second.

I still stand by my earlier statement and add that these are opportunists with a selfish political motive with no interest for the party's aspiration of a Malaysian Malaysia. He is simply a threat to the party with his statement that he has "no regrets" and jumping to wrong conclusions and assumptions about Ngeh's general statement that an "announcement will be made soon" that caused him to be insecure about the role of Indians in the new State Govt.

What nonsense is he talking about!! Mind you, it's not about getting posts, it's about serving the people, irrespective of race!!

Buntong Assemblyman Quits! Here we go again

It is most disappointing that the DAP assemblyman for Buntong quit the party, just because there is only one Indian in the State Exco. Goodness me, why does he give up so easily after just being newly elected recently under the DAP banner. He might as well give up his seat and have a by-election, now that he is an independent, as the voters didn't vote for him as an Independent.

This is political immaturity to say the least, to just resign from the party, when things don't go your way. He might as well ask all Indians nationwide in the party to join him and resign as well, just because there is only one Indian in the Perak State Exco. This is not the way to go, if we want to see politics transcend beyond race in Malaysia.

The issue here is not about whether the DAP Perak State Chief, Ngeh Koo Ham has broken his promises. The issue here is why go to the press, when he is dissatisfied with the composition of the State EXCO. Does it mean that it's the end of the world for Indians in Perak ?? C'mon man, it's only the beginning of a new era of DAP-PKR-PAS relationship in the State Govt and there are already cracks.

They should get on with the job of serving the people and behave like they are the State Government and not be quitters just because they are being deprived of a certain quota in meeting the race requirement. There should be no place for racial politics, if we want to forge ahead in nation building and in the principles of justice for all Malaysians, irrespective of skin colour and creed.

If this goes on, we might as well forget about calling ourselves Malaysians. The PAS Perak Menteri Besar has already pledged to serve ALL and that includes Indians. Let's give them a chance to prove themselves for the next 5 years. If not, vote them out...

There is no prophetic guarantee that a certain number of Indians in the EXCO will improve the status of Indians, if there is no spirit of co-operation among all Malaysians, irrespective of race.
Even a single person from a certain race can make a difference in society (look at Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King), and for goodness sake, we should stop believing that there is strength in numbers of a particular race. Because if we do, then I am certainly ashamed to call myself a Malaysian and a human being.

It's too late to apologise?

Karpal Singh said that Dr M should apologise to the judges that were dismissed in 1988. Not only that, pay them compensation from the day they were dismissed until now.

Dr. M's reply is that the tribunal should apologise. We now have the latest news that Samy Vellu has called for the Hindraf's 5 release. Now where's the apology from him? It makes me wonder. If he had won his parliamentary seat, would he have called for the release of the Hindraf ISA detainees?

Something to ponder, but it's about time, he makes an appeal to the PM, and let's hope that justice is served and common sense prevails. It's only fair, especially when the people have spoken through the ballot box by electing a jailed politician to be the new State Assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah. This only proves that the voters perceive the ISA detention to be politically motivated.

Release the ISA detainees!

Release the Hindraf ISA detainees immediately!

The refusal of the Home Minister, Datuk Syed Hamid Albar to release newly-elected Selangor DAP State Assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah and four other Hindraf leaders, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and T. Vasantha Kumar from Internal Security Act (ISA) smacks of arrogance.

The detention should bring Malaysians back to reality that the second Abdullah administration are deaf to the voice of the people clamouring for change in the recent March 8 General Election results which was a disaster for the ruling coalition in terms of losing their 2/3 majority.

Instead, we have the same corrupted status quo, who are taking their political chances for survival by not releasing them from this inhumane and unjust law of detention without trial.

Indeed, BN is living in desperate times, whilst the opposition in exciting times.