Of Money Politics

1. After the announcement by UMNO disciplinary board, the post for UMNO Deputy President will be a straight fight between Tan Sri Muhyiddin and Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

2. I really can't imagine a former Menteri Besar caught in Australia with a large stash of cash and no ability to defend himself in the courts because he could not speak any English would win.

3. We hope the delegates would make the right decision. However, my boss used to tell us that "hope" is not a plan.

4. Since Dato' Seri Ali has been barred from contesting due to money politics, it is unclear whether he would retain the seat as Menteri Besar when Dato' Seri Najib takes over. His membership remains intact.

5. His political secretary, Saadun Basirun faced a different tune. Found guilty of money politics, his membership has been suspended for 3 years. If Saadun acted on behalf of Dato' Seri, why is the punishment meted out more severe than of his boss? Perhaps there was no proof of a link, if any.

6. KJ although found guilty of money politics escaped unscathed because of difference in situation than Dato' Seri Ali, according to Tengku Rithaudeen. According to Tengku also, the amount of money and the action of the agents differ between that of KJ's and Dato' Seri Ali's.

7. Who are the agents and will they also face penalty for aiding and abetting? How are the situations different? What is the amount involved here? Tengku was also quoted to have said that it's between "rasuah wang" and "rasuah makan-makan".

8. 12 other members were found guilty, but only 9 had their memberships suspended. Maybe it is also between "rasuah wang" and "rasuah makan-makan".

9. On the other hand, Norza was hauled up by MACC for his alleged involvement in money politics. He could face a fine up to 5 times the amount involved or 20 years of imprisonment. Bail was set at RM10,000.

General Assembly to Be Called Off

As if the current economic mayhem and political instability in Perak are not sufficient to make our days gloomier, tomorrow Datuk Kadar Shah will file an injunction to postpone the UMNO general assembly until all allegations of money politics have been thoroughly investigated and suspects are cleared of any wrongdoings. We all thought UMNO has reached a historical rock bottom, this is probably going to take us further down.

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Tafsiran Kekecohan Politik Perak

Haru biru, kecoh, porak peranda. Bermacam2 perumpamaan, ungkapan dan perkataan telah digunakan untuk mencerminkan suasana di Perak sekarang. Ada yang menganggap perbuatan Tuanku Sultan tidak termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Negeri, ada yang hendak memfailkan saman di mahkamah. Ada juga tiba2 menjadi pakar dalam mengintepresasi undang2. Ada yang umumkan bahawa dia akan derhaka perintah Sultan. Macam2 ada.

Mari kita kaji aspek politik negeri. Politik Perak agak rumit dan berlainan dari negeri2 pembangkang yang lain. Rata2, kerusi Parlimen telah dipertahankan dengan mantap oleh wakil2 Barisan Nasional tetapi banyak kecundang dalam pertandingan kerusi DUN. Corak pertandingan juga menarik, kerana di mana BN menang di peringkat Parlimen, lain pula ceritanya di peringkat DUN dalam Parlimen yang sama. Ini secara jelas menggambarkan hasrat pengundi yang meneliti calon2 kedua2 barisan. Presiden UMNO juga telah membuat kenyataan bahawa ada unsur2 sabotaj dalam parti yang menyebabkan BN kecundang di Perak terutamanya parti komponen.

Sebagai contoh, Di Parlimen Parit Buntar, Dr Muhajid (PAS) menang dengan majoriti selesa 7551 tetapi di DUN Titi Serong dan Kuala Kurau, calon PAS dan PKR hanya menang dengan majoriti 1149 dan 467. Di Gerik pula, Tan Lian Hoe (Gerakan) menang dengan selesa dengan majoriti 5573 di kawasan 74% peratus Melayu (tetapi selepas kemenangan dari undian orang2 Melayu juga, beliau mendakwa orang2 Melayu juga pendatang, bukan sahaja orang2 Cina. Ini menimbulkan kemarahan majoriti orang Melayu. Kenyataan beliau sebagai respons kepada kenyataan yang dibuat oleh bekas Ketua Bahagian UMNO Bukit Bendera). Di Sungai Siput, presiden MIC kalah di tangan Dr Jeyakumar dengan majoriti 1821, tetapi kerusi DUN Lintang dimenangi UMNO dengan majoriti 1376. Di Ipoh, pembangkang sapu bersih kerusi Parlimen dan DUN. Di Parlimen Lumut, Kong Cho Ha (MCA) menang dengan majoriti tipis 298, tetapi DUN Pasir Panjang menyaksikan Nizar (PAS) menang dengan majoriti 4474 dan Datuk Zambry (BN) menang kerusi DUN Pangkor dengan majoriti 5785.

Sandiwara bermula dengan Nasarudin Hashim (DUN Bota - BN) lompat ke PKR kerana katanya pimpinan UMNO sudah hilang arah. Selepas 10 hari, keluar PKR dan jadi calon Bebas, tapi menyokong BN. Sekarang BN mempunyai 28 DUN + 3 bebas manakala Pakatan Rakyat mempunyai 28 kerusi DUN, yang majoritinya dipegang DAP. DAP mempunyai 18 kerusi DUN, manakala PAS memegang 6 kerusi, PKR memegang 7 kerusi. Selepas PRU-12, DAP menyarankan bahawa kerusi Menteri Besar seharusnya diberikan kepada DAP. Permintaan ini menimbulkan kekecohan di Perak sehingga Raja Nazrin terpaksa campur tangan dalam menyelesaikan konflik ini. Lim Kit Siang pula menyuruh DUN2 DAP untuk boikot majlis angkat sumpah. Sifat DAP yang cuba menggerhanakan kedudukan PKR dan PAS akhirnya berakhir apabila ahli2 DUN mereka sendiri lompat parti, semuanya berpunca dari Anwar yang mencadangkan kaedah melompat untuk merampas kerajaan persekutuan dari BN.

Tahniah Dato' Seri Najib! Now.... the hard part (Part 3)

DSNR also has to crack the whip as Chairman of Barisan Nasional. Component parties should act like partners and cease making statements contradicting the philosophies and agreed stand of the coalition. Every component leader should respect and safeguard each race's rights in the constitution. Stern actions should be taken for those who disobey. Is disciplinary action in order for SAPP and MCA (some UMNO leaders are at fault too)? We'll see. DSNR should also make his stand crystal clear (and he has made a clear position about the NEP). If he's for it, there shouldn't be any more discussion about it, especially from coalition partners. End of story. Crack the whip Dato' Seri, please.

Reforming UMNO and Barisan Nasional is no easy task. It doesn't even come close in the vicinity of a difficult task. It is extremely challenging but not impossible. This is a coalition in need of serious revamping and rebranding after the huge reduction in parliamentary and state seats that BN used to dominate.

On money politics, we all know what all politicians think of it. Now ACA and the UMNO disciplinary board are working together to nip this problem in the bud. However, the systemic problem remains. The number of delegates for any national or division are too small and easily influenced with promises of cash and positions. It's a 'manageable' number of delegates for contenders with serious cash and moolah. Increasing this number by 3-4 folds would help alleviate the problem for now.

This pandemic problem within UMNO is commonplace. The lack of quality members within the party is also obvious. It is widely known that the 'other side' boasts memberships of professionals, business leaders (should not include cronies who get projects easily from their political friends and end up selling them off to the chinese. It's especially true for those with zero knowledge of the business) and corporate figures with definitely better background. No disrespect intended for members who might be offended with this statement, but it's pretty obvious ("ukurlah baju di badan sendiri" (aspiration should match capability)). Clearly, a sudden injection of bodies would create a shock in the system. It has to be done in stages, which has to be guided and monitored by the party President himself.

We need to be realistic as these individuals won't be swayed with a mere RM500 to vote for joe black, for example. We might scorn the amount, but to some people, that's easy money so to speak. Unfortunately, because of the membership process, it takes months to get a form processed (assuming you're not considered a threat to incumbents within the division). A clear turn off for aspiring candidates and potential asset for the party.

Scrapping the quota system and opening up the race for any position could help curb the problem (if TS Muhyiddin wins uncontested this weekend, it should be his first agenda come March 09). Having a debate between contenders is also healthy to discuss issues and create awareness of the candidate's agenda and aim. The settings and audience can be catered for members first before we are ready to open it up publicly.

There is no doubt money is required for campaigning especially for national-level posts, travel expenses, staff salary, 'duit rokok', etcetera, etcetera. Here's what's funny. In the US, candidates conduct fund raising and the money is channelled for campaigning. It's the opposite here. Candidates normally end up forking out his own money most of the time. Perhaps it is time to make fund raising legal within certain threshold and stop making election a 'business' in the party.

Can we also scrap all the singing in meetings (except for the national anthem)?

Part 2