Hadi and Nasha have mud on their faces

Saad Hashim - Malaysiakini.com 25 June 2009

I refer to the Malaysiakini report PM: 'A religious duty to have unity talks'.

The so-called unity government talks between PAS and Umno or between PAS and BN and later changed to between Pakatan and BN have ended in a fiasco because of either bad 'nawaitu' (intention) or political immaturity on the part of PAS President Haji Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa.

First, why did Hadi make statements on the matter without the consent of his party and his party elders like Spiritual Leader Haji Nik Aziz. Because unlike Umno, PAS truly practises the concept that the president is merely someone who is only 'first among equals', meaning he cannot ignore the opinions of other leaders.

In Umno, the president is deemed to be the ‘high and mighty’ who can make policies willy-nilly and no one dares to chide or challenge him for making policy announcements without the consent of the Umno supreme council.

Thus we have had controversial policies made by the most powerful Umno president since Abdul Razak, - Dr Mahathir Mohamad like for example on the teaching of science and mathematics in English. I am sure Mahathir can testify to this and he could perhaps enlighten us further by telling us all those disastrous and wasteful policies he had made during his administration. On hindsight, he might want to say that he very much regretted them.

Secondly, did Hadi make this ‘unity talk’ suggestion, later seconded by his sidekick Nasharuddin only following some secret talks with Umno people who had promised Hadi the deputy premiership and senior ministership for Nasharuddin?

Hadi thought he could bulldoze his way with his party and quite naturally, there would be some in the PAS leadership as well as PAS grassroots who would support the idea especially those who perhaps still feel uncomfortable with PAS having to join DAP to form governments in Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Perak.

As they say in politics, you can fool all the people some of the time or the people can always be sweet-talked into making foolish decisions all the time.Thirdly, Hadi and Nasharuddin later insisted that PAS would talk to any party to discuss the country's problems ie, economy, the police, the judiciary, crime, etc.

If that is so, why can't they use the word 'dialogue' and not 'unity government'?And even this harmless overture Hadi and his deputy would have to inform their party leadership as well as their Pakatan partners.

And since when did Umno respect and spend time listening to Hadi and Nasharuddin on how to solve the country's economic problems? Now that the whole farce has come to an end, who has ended up with more mud on their face? Surely it is Hadi and Nasharuddin because whatever you may say, the duo cannot deny that the idea came from them and not from Umno (unless there is clear evidence that Hadi was asked to do it by Umno agents).

At the end of the day, Hadi and Nasharuddin have clearly tarnished the image of their party and strangely this is happening at a time when PAS is enjoying new-found strength and respectability following the last general elections.

Hadi and Nasharuddin have clearly become a little cancer in PAS and worse of all, from now on their partners in Pakatan can't be blamed if they start looking at PAS suspiciously.

Thus PAS would have to act fast by telling them that they are mere mortals and for the sake of the party, they should be brave enough to ‘die’ on their own swords, or else the party would arrange a ‘guillotine’ for them. Also it shouldn't be difficult for them because several PAS leaders have done this before including former past president Asri, Othman Abdullah, Mohamad Nasir, Nakhaie, etc.

Comment: There must be something behind their move as written here. There could have been secret talk between them and 'offer' from Umno men. This is the problem with political immaturity of our leaders. For the sake of personal gain they can easily be bought and sold. Poor PAS and Malays as a whole.

One by-election too many?

By Elections In Malaysia
The Electric New Paper, Singapore
MON 01 JUNE 2009 - Tan May Ping

THERE have been seven by-elections in Malaysia since the March 2008 general election in which the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) won a close battle against Mr Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition, comprising PKR, PAS and DAP.

Some Malaysians are already calling 2009 'a year of by-elections', especially since the last parliamentary term from 2004 to 2008 saw only six by-elections - or an average of 1.5 a year.

The New Paper on Sunday spoke to three analysts about the 'by-election effect'.

They are Dr Ooi Kee Beng, fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore; Professor James Chin, political science professor at Monash University in Malaysia, and Dr Ahmad Nidzammudin Sulaiman, University Kebangsaan Malaysia's political science head.

How do the by-elections affect the Malaysian psyche?

Dr Ooi: They add to the feeling that changes will not come easily and that they are in for a long period of political battles.

Prof Chin: Voters are unhappy that so much money is wasted on by-elections.

Dr Ahmad: Overall, Malaysians have no problem and look forward to them.

How do they affect the Malaysian economy?

Dr Ooi: Minimally. What does affect the economy are federal policies and federal postures vis-a-vis the opposition states, which happen to be the most industrialised states that the national economy is dependent on.

Prof Chin: Nothing direct, but overall it creates an atmosphere of political instability.

Dr Ahmad: Not much. There are many other factors like the current global economic slump. Elections in Malaysia are safely run and I don't think foreign investors are overly worried.

How do they affect the political situation in Malaysia?

Dr Ooi: Malaysian politics will be kept in a 'campaigning mode' for too long. This affects how changes will take place, and defensiveness and offensiveness will become the mode of thought more than 'nation-building'.

Prof Chin: Political parties come alive during elections so it's good for them.

Dr Ahmad: Since March 2008, Malaysia has been in a transition period into more open, competitive new politics. These elections heighten politicking among parties. They, however, do not disrupt the overall political system.

Do they strengthen the opposition hand as opposed to the BN?

Dr Ooi: Yes, they favour the opposition for now. But they do tell the BN that they cannot win if they do not change fast enough.

The pressure is on the opposition to get its act together, to deliver on reforms where they can and to improve the quality of their rank-and-file.

Prof Chin: Yes and no. For Perak, it strengthens the PR.

Dr Ahmad: The current position of the opposition does strengthen since the common interest of the members to knock down BN is still intact. Conflicting ideologies are put aside for the sake of this common interest.

On the other hand, BN cohesion looks a little shaken as a few component parties have threatened to pull out.

Going forward, what is the best strategy for BN?

Dr Ooi: Turning the economy around, and improving international trade relations. BN component parties have to respond to the demands of the times. This is where they are at a loss. I suspect BN will have to lose power in order to become a healthy organisation again.

Prof Chin: As the incumbent in power since Independence, they must fight for every seat, even in hopeless cases. They cannot allow the PR and Anwar momentum.

Dr Ahmad: There is no short-cut remedy for 50 years of blunders they have made. People are demanding good governance, transparency, accountability and open society. They have to sacrifice a lot to regain public confidence.

Bright Rising Star of Nizar

Nizar’s star shines bright in PAS
By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insiders, Thursday April 16 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Just how much has Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's profile grown in the past 13 months? He was a relative unknown on March 17, 2008, when he was appointed Perak mentri besar.

Today, he is PAS's rising star and a symbol of its possible future where the stigma of Islamic extremism no longer retards its political ambitions.

At the time of writing, the new Bukit Gantang MP has collected vice-presidential nominations for the June party polls from all three divisions that have had their general meetings so far.

The Feb 5 toppling of his government, which has led to a gripping constitutional crisis, has paved the way to a paradigm shift within the party, that for decades, suffered under the perception of Islamic extremism, rendering it "unelectable" to non-Muslims, in the words of research chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Dogged by the constant controversy over its espousal of hudud, which prescribes punishments such as amputation of limbs for offences like robbery, and an Islamic theocratic state, Nizar's overwhelming popularity with non-Malays due to his moderate and inclusive stance may further open the floodgates for PAS if he is elected into the vice-presidency.

With the startling success of Nizar in sweeping the non-Malay — 85 per cent of Chinese in the state constituency of Kuala Sepetang voted for Nizar — votes in the April 7 Bukit Gantang polls, PAS now has a clear path from being a Malay belt party, to a truly national and mainstream one.

But whether it chooses to embark on this journey is a question that will only be answered in the June muktamar in Shah Alam.

Observers have long spoken of two main factions existing within the party. The side supporting closer ties with Umno, led by president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, are labelled the ulama faction, while those who support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are tagged the Erdogans because of the opposition leader’s close ties with the Turkish leader.

The former is synonymous with a more conservative Malay Muslim view of the party's objectives while the Erdogans, who have the blessing of spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, believe that Islamic principles can complement an equitable multicultural society.

Nizar, although not a member of any faction, clearly shares the sort of moderate views espoused by the Erdogans.

When contacted by The Malaysian Insider, he said that he has not thought about the possibility of contesting for one of the three vice-president posts but should nominations continue to stream in, admitted that he "will have to consider contesting."

Modest, as usual, Nizar preferred to analyse circumstances as an "opportunity for PAS's true colours to emerge" and with Erdogan man Datuk Husam Musa set to take the step up from vice-president to deputy president, the post-June Islamist party could very well be the sort of partner that PKR and DAP can finally be comfortable with.

Husam has so far been reluctant to signal any intent to contest for the No. 2 post but it is understood that like Nizar, he will respect the party's wishes if it decides to push for his candidacy.

Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider that he is confident that the party is beginning to take a more pragmatic view of how the party should operate, and step away from pure dogmatism that has in the past stopped it from making the sort of inroads with non-Muslims that it has managed to make in the past year or so.

"Of several candidates considered for Bukit Gantang, eventually Nizar was chosen as he was the most 'winnable' despite our studies showing there would be a reduction of Malay support. But the party understood that what was important was to win, so the party is now able to conceptualise its priorities differently," he said.

Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who was Nizar's No. 2 in his 11-month-old administration, told The Malaysian Insider that PAS's inclusive policies, if continued and affirmed, would create greater cooperation within Pakatan Rakyat.

"For PAS to be a national party, it must continue with its open attitude," he said, adding that it would quash what he calls Umno's demonisation of PAS as a party of extreme ulamas (religious scholars).

Ngeh's hopes may soon be realised as Nizar's candidacy as vice-president is not the only brow-raising trend in the nominations so far.

While it is accepted that Hadi will retain the presidency uncontested, it appears that his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa has not impressed the grassroots.

Out of the three divisions, the ulama leader has only received one nomination, the same as Husam. But with heartland Malay division Temerloh nominating Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak instead, Nasharuddin could be in trouble.

Indeed, developments so far will give PAS's Pakatan Rakyat partners some joy. Besides Husam's candidacy for No. 2, the favourites for vice-president are dominated by more moderate voices such as Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, firebrand vice-president Mohamad Sabu and Nizar.

For those who feel that a strong Pakatan Rakyat is crucial for the political future of Malaysia, the PAS muktamar, and not last month's Umno general assembly, may well be the highlight milestone for 2009.

Comment: I totally agree with this view. He is a bright rising leader of PAS and Pakatan. Anwar is considered as chief of Pakatan and he is responsible to mend the opposition parties, to bring together PAS and DAP. Without him those two will continue quarrel and will never sit together, let alone to plan any political move or take over of government. Observers always say Pakatan Rakyat is only temporal cliche in Malaysian politics..., what happen after Anwar? Who can lock DAP and PAS together in the post-Anwar period? Definitely Not Lim Kit Siang or Haji Hadi. Tuan Guru Nik Aziz too will be difficult for DAP members to accept as the Pakatan leader. They want somebody liberal enough but at the same time acceptable to PAS members. PKR also need somebody moderate in policies and protect the fundamental agreement of the social contract. Nizar is well liked by all races in the Pakatan and I would say he is the answer. Time will tell...

Habis di PWTC berpusu-pusu ke Bukit Gantang..

Perubahan Umno 'tiada kesan' di Bkt Gantang
Ali Bukhari Amir Mar 29, 09 2:17pm MALAYSIAKINI

Perubahan kepemimpinan dalam Umno kepada Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin tidak akan memberi kesan kepada pengundi parlimen Bukit Gantang, kata dua pengamat politik.

Pensyarah sains politik Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Dr Ahmad Nidzammuddin Sulaiman berkata peralihan kuasa itu - dan juga pertemuan mengejut mantan perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dengan penggantinya Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - semalam hanya meredakan pergolakan dalaman parti itu.

Beliau, yang turut meninjau perkembangan di kawasan parlimen itu hari ini, berkata masyarakat dan pengundi belum tentu mengubah tanggapan mereka sebelum ini terhadap kerajaan. "Sengketa Dr Mahathir-Abdullah itu adalah pergolakan dalaman parti, sedangkan pilihan raya kecil membabitkan parti-parti politik yang berbeza pendirian. "Jadi, saya tidak fikir perdamaian itu akan mempengaruhi keputusan pengundi," katanya kepada Malaysiakini.

Seorang lagi pensyarah sains politik UKM, Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff juga mempunyai pendapat yang sama - perubahan Umno itu tidak akan memberikan kesan kepada pengundi Melayu di kerusi tersebut. "Ia tidak memberi kesan segera kepada para pengundi Melayu dan pengundi muda. Jadi, saya tidak dapat memberikan komen berhubung hal itu. "Yang penting, biarlah pilihanraya kecil itu berlangsung terlebih dahulu dan barulah kita tahu apa kesan selanjutnya," katanya, sambil menegaskan bahawa dalam politik, tiada musuh yang kekal.

Perdamaian Abdullah-Dr Mahathir itu yang disifatkan langkah positif kepada Umno, tambah Dr Mohammad Agus, ahli-ahli Umno bermungkinan lebih bersemangat mendepani pilihanraya itu. "Tapi, bukankah semua itu hanya sekadar sentimen," kata beliau. "Ia bukan ukuran yang tepat (untuk menunjukkan Umno akan menang)." Pilihanraya kecil Bukit Gantang yang bermula hari ini menyaksikan persaingan sengit calon PAS Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin dengan calon BN Ismail Safian yang dianggap "referendum" terhadap Najib dan menteri besar Pakatan Rakyat itu. Ia dimeriahkan lagi dengan kehadiran calon bebas Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

Sementara itu, mengulas pilihanraya kecil Bukit Selambau, Dr Ahmad Nidzamuddin berkata kemenangan presiden MIC Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu bagi penggal tidak memberikan kesan kerana pengundi Melayu memainkan peranan penentu di kerusi DUN itu."Pelantikan (kembali) Samy Vellu tidak memberi apa-apa kesan ke atas pilihanraya di sana kerana di situ ramai pengundi Melayu. "Pengundi Melayu yang akan menentukan keputusannya nanti," katanya. Calon MIc Datuk S Ganesan menggalas cabaran BN bagi berdepan dengan muka baru PKR S Manikumar bersama 13 calon bebas - menjadikan pilihanraya kecil ini merekodkan sejarah paling ramai di Malaysia.

Komen: Baru kembali dari tinjauan 1 di Bukit Gantang. Minggu hadapan akan naik sekali lagi dan akan terus ke Bukit Selambau juga. Hingga kini kelihatan PAS lebih mendahului dari sudut kegiatan, jentera, poster, bendera, kehadiran kepimpinan pusat dan sebagainya. Bilik gerakan BN atau UMNO masih banyak yang terbiar kosong... mungkin selepas penamaan calon tadi baru mereka bertindak lebih aktif. Tinjauan dengan penduduk juga kelihatan berat sebelah. Penyokong fanatik juga kelihatan di sini dengan kata-kata yang agak kesat ditujukan kepada pihak lawan. Pasukan polis yang berjaga-jaga kelihatan amat besar ketumbukannya seolah-olah Bukit Gantang hendak berperang!!! Tuan-tuan pegawai polis yang berkuasa... ini hanya pilihanraya kecil.