A selfish evil wish due to an ingrate (updated)

(Note : Updates at the bottom of the page)

I just got back from a very hectic day at work. Took a shower, did the necessary and now about to sleep.

Earlier, as I was entering the lift of this apartment I'm staying for my stay in JB, a guy joined me as he was also going up to his place.

I noticed that he pushed the P button. That is going to the penthouse unit. The guy must be one of the richer tenants, I thought.

He pleasantly asked me if I just came back from work. I smiled and replied in the affirmative.

"Do you know that the PM is in town today?" he asked again.

"Yes, must be for the election, I guess," I said.

With a small laugh, he added "What is the point of him coming here, BN will lose anyway."

I just smiled and exited the lift which had reached my floor.

Suddenly, at that moment,  I had this evil wish for BN to really lose.

Only then probably that guy who stays in a penthouse apartment will realize how messed up this country would be if Pakatan takes over.

Only then probably will he realized that he was able to live in luxury because he had the opportunity to make lots of money, thanks to the BN government's policies which made it conducive for people like him to prosper.

But that wish was just for a moment.

I quickly realized that if that wish does comes true, it is not just the penthouse guy who will suffers, but also other less fortunate Malaysians.

Sorry, I was being selfish due to being angry with that guy. I shouldn't wish such a disaster for this country just because of such an ingrate.

Anyway, I'm too tired to write updates of what is happening on the election front in Johor today.

I think for such updates, you may for now get them at  A Green Bee In The Rain 雨中的绿蜂

UPDATES

This is an article that everyone, especially the people of Gelang Patah must read - A Malaysian Opportunity in Gelang Patah. 

Ghani on the ground versus Kit Siang in the sky

It is raining heavily in JB as I'm writing this. I'm taking a day off from work today. It's after all a Sunday.

A friend forwarded me the schedule of Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, the BN candidate for Gelang Patah for today.

Morning
 - Walkabout at market of Taman Ungku Tun Aminah,
 - Meeting Chinese community at San San Kok Wang temple in Kangkar Pulai followed with a walkabout and having coffee at a kopitiam
 - Attending UCTC@68 programme atPDM Kemuliaan Taman University.
- Meeting Indian community at Taman Pulai Perdana
Afternoon
-Meeting residents of Kampung Poh Chee Leng
- Attending a gathering of women group from Gelang Patah at MBJBT hall in Taman University.
- Meeting with Chinese women group at Good Hope Hotel.
- Meeting Indian community at Kangkar Pulai
- Meeting Indian community at Taman Nesa, Skudai
- Meeting with Gerakan members at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah
- Meeting fishermen at Kampung Pendas Laut
Evening
- Meeting Chinese community at Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai
- Meeting members of the Chia Ping Cultural Association at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah

Well, it seems that Ghani's schedule is tight.

However, it is not as glamourous as that of his rival DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

These Ghani's little meetings with the electorates are normally attended by just a few hundred people while Kit Siang will have mammoth gatherings such as the one near Sutera mall last weekend which was estimated by pro-opposition websites such as Malaysian Insider being attended by about 10,000 people.

Kit Siang's ceramah now even have the added glamour of para-gliders flying above it carrying flags of the DAP, Pas....errr, I'm not sure if they carry the PKR flag (Is Dr Boo already ok with Chua Jui Meng?)

Kit Siang is also calling for a Press conference everyday. There are always things he wanted to highlight in the newspapers. Even the Singapore media is having a field day covering him.

Ghani, on the other hand is taking a different approach. To get his statement, reporters have to chase him through his tight schedule. Ghani's priority seems to be meeting the electorates as much as he can rather than getting on the pages of newspapers or TV screen.

I did ask a close aide of Ghani whether he was worried about his boss' campaign being too low keyed as compared to Kit Siang's glamourous strategy.

"No, I'm not worried. We know what we are doing. I just hope that those para-gliders are not going to crash and them later blaming BN for it," he said.

I hope he is right. It seems that the BN's campaign strategy in Gelang Patah is a repeat of how they did it in the Tenang by-election two years ago. BN, despite going low-key had won convincingly.

Whatever it is I'm glad that the BN's campaign in Gelang Patah is now visibly going full swing. Among others, BN posters and flags are finally all up in place at Gelang Patah as we enter the final stretch to polling day.

Last hope for a united multi-racial Malaysia

This is the weekly posting by Ai, formerly of the Big Cat blog -

By Ai

The weather in Taipei is mostly beautiful at the moment. I'm in the midst of packing my stuff. My flight home is on Monday. Will be home for almost two weeks. My flight is to Changi. Going to spend a few days in Singapore before crossing over to JB. I will be casting my votes for Pulai parliamentary and Kempas state seats. Several of my friends here are also flying home for the polls. I believe all of them are DAP supporters.

As I monitor general election news from home, I can't help feeling nostalgic about how I started the BIGCAT blog over a year ago. Now that GE13 is finally here, I recalled how lonely it was back then as there were not many English sopo blog in Johor supporting BN at that time. I was also rather ill equipped, having to mostly do my postings at cyber cafes. I only got a laptop much later after I moved to the Klang Valley in the middle of last year courtesy of a friend's generosity.

The BIGCAT blog now belongs to my friend Tinsel. I believe she is doing a rather good job. Well, I don't really like her putting too many pictures of cats in her postings, as I find them a bit irritating. But the blog is now her's and it is up to her to do whatever she likes with it.

Later in JB, I will join my friend Annie, the operator of this blog. She happens to be in Johor for the duration of the election. I'm glad that she had started this blog after I persuaded her to do so almost two months ago. I think she did an okay job so far with this blog.

I think BN will definitely win this general election. They will surely gain ground in the predominantly Malay states such as Kelantan and Kedah. They are also expected to do better elsewhere, especially in the Malay areas in Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Pakatan on the other hand will rely heavily on the support of the Chinese community, especially in the urban areas courtesy of DAP. This is especially so in the front line states of Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

What I fear most will likely happened after the general election - a mostly Malay/bumiputera government on one side and a predominantly Chinese opposition on the other. A racial polarization which will take generations to rectify, if ever.

I believe PM DS Najib Razak is trying his best to prevent this from happening. But from the looks of things, I doubt he will be successful as the majority of the Chinese community seems hell bent on voting for DAP as they believe that the party represents them better than the Chinese-based BN component parties. Ask a Chinese about it and I bet nine out of ten that he/she will say that he/she will support the DAP.

As our society seems to be heading towards this racial abyss, Najib is trying one last card - fielding a Malay Umno candidate in a Chinese majority area in the hope that he will win and prove that all are not lost and that there is still a chance for us not to forever be politically divided along racial lines.

It's almost an impossible mission....maybe even a political suicide mission.

Yup, that person who was tasked with it is outgoing Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

He is contesting in Gelang Patah which voters are about 53 per cent Chinese. On top of that, he is up against the DAP patriarch Lim Kit Siang.

If Ghani wins, he will represents a hope that Malaysians will one day see beyond their ethnicity when deciding who are the better persons among us.

Going by his comparatively immaculate track record as Johor MB of 18 years, Ghani is definitely better than Kit Siang who is only coming to Gelang Patah with the sole purpose of piercing the BN stronghold of Johor.

I had written in the past about Ghani and how I admire him for his clean and efficient ways of running Johor. Many, including fellow pro-BN bloggers questioned my support for Ghani. Some even accused me of being on Ghani's payroll.

But my conscience is clear. I never receive a single cent from him in exchange for my support. Ghani is indeed a good man. I believe every sensible Johoreans, irrespective of race agrees with me.

I am praying from the bottom of my heart that he will succeed in his probable last mission - winning in Gelang Patah with the support of Chinese, Malays, Indians and other races.

Even if every Chinese majority constituencies in this country fell to DAP, if Ghani wins, we can still turn around and point at Gelang Patah to say that our Chinese brothers and sisters are not all blinded by their ethnicity and that there is still hope for our multi-racial Malaysia.

Anwar on Mahathir and Mahathir's reply

This is a report from Segamat, Johor where DS Anwar Ibrahim had made some remarks about former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahahthir Mohamad.

I am not adding anything to it, but merely highlighted what Anwar said and Dr Mahathir's response to it. You all can judge the character of those two yourself based on it -

Anwar turns ugly with jibe at Dr M

JASSMINE SHADIQE | jashadiqe@nst.com.my

RANTING AWAY: Also calls for premature death of BN and component parties

SEGAMAT: DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday called on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to "just die" instead of campaigning for Barisan Nasional.

"Sudah mau mati, dah 83 tahun. Berapa la lama lagi? Kalau dah nak mati, mati saja lah (It's almost time for him to die, at 83 years old. How long more? If you are going to die, just die)," he said at a ceramah in Kampung Abdullah here.

(Dr Mahathir is actually 87 years old.)

Anwar was Dr Mahathir's deputy when the latter was prime minister but was sacked following allegations of abuse of power and sexual misconduct.

Anwar added in a sarcastic tone that he had forgiven Dr Mahathir, as he knew the latter would not survive a prison term and that there were no prisons wanting to accept him as he was too old.

He also called for the premature death of BN, and its component parties, the MCA and MIC.

Earlier, he had accused BN of trying to prevent DAP from using the party's "Rocket" symbol for the election.

"When Pakatan said fine, we will use the moon (Pas's logo) nationwide, BN panicked and pushed to say DAP can use their rocket logo," claimed Anwar.

He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Present were other opposition coalition candidates, including Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who is contesting the Segamat parliamentary seat and Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub who is contesting the Pulai parliamentary and Nusajaya state seats.

Salahuddin had also taken up the "premature death" theme, saying BN was irrelevant and its leaders were "almost dying".

He said the Gelang Patah BN candidate, outgoing Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, was a reluctant candidate and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang would bury him there.

Dr Mahathir, when asked to comment on Anwar's remarks, said he was merely exercising his rights of freedom of speech.

"The opposition leaders have yet to form the government, but they have asked the people to shut up.

"People had used vulgar words against me when I was the prime minister.

"Some of them had even labelled me as firaun (pharaoh), a racist and an ultra-Malay but I never asked the authorities to arrest them.

"So now, why are they trying to deny my right to speak up?"

Read more: Anwar turns ugly with jibe at Dr M - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/anwar-turns-ugly-with-jibe-at-dr-m-1.264696#ixzz2RWtByLll

A gentle reminder for Khaled

I'm still sick. Writing this in bed.

Yesterday I went to the clinic and the doctor gave me six types of medication. He told me to straight away go home and rest but I can't. Got lots of works.

When I finally got home about 8pm, I immediately fell asleep. Woke up at 3am and found a few text messages, one of which was from my mother - my cousin in Singapore was badly injured in an accident. My mother is so worried about her. If I feel better later in the evening, I will probably drive across the Causeway to visit her at the hospital. I'm praying that she is okay.

Was just about to catch a bit more sleep just now when someone from Gelang Patah Umno called.

"Eh, what is this Khaled doing coming here to disturb us? He is already arranging his people, is it?" the guy asked.

I was not really sure what it was all about, so I asked him to elaborate. The guy said Johor MB frontrunner candidate DS Mohamed Khaled Nordin had asked one of the high ranking Umno official in Gelang Patah to arrange his visit to the peti undi areas in that constituency.

"Now everyone are saying that Khaled has appointed that fella who arrange things for him in Gelang Patah as the future division chief. This is not good as it could create factionalism as we are facing the general election. Can't Khaled cool off a bit and wait till the election is over?," said the Gelang Patah guy.

I have to agree with what the guy said. I think Khaled need to be cool a bit. He shouldn't try to assert himself too much too early as it will create unnecessary animosity.

I had been hearing all sorts of things about the Khaled camp but had refrained from writing them as it is now election time. Winning the election overrides everything else at the moment. But when things are done which could harm that chances of BN winning the election, I think I have to make things known as a gentle reminder.

Khaled, I think you need to concentrate on winning in Permas first. No need for you to sibuk want to check on things such as the BN war room, and what is going on in other constituencies etc. I think by now you should know how Johor BN operates during an election - the divisions are given a certain degree of autonomy on how they should wage their campaign. So, not yet being a Johor BN chairman, I think you should cool it off first. There will be plenty of time for you to act like an MB after the election....that is, if you become an MB....

Oh, one more thing Khaled, please tell your young aides not to be so blatant. Honestly, they are the ones who created this image of you and the gang going around like a bunch of pirates. I mean, come on la, you are still not yet an MB, and they are already talking about who should occupy which post and room at Kota Iskandar. They even openly talk about who among the JCS people should be appointed to which post. If you don't believe me, go and check with the JCS people, ok? Control them a bit please.

A story, a commentary and an interview with a non-racist

For the latest on Gelang Patah, please read this posting by Chuah Bee Kim who  said that
Ghani Is Well-Liked, Well-Respected
despite allegations by DAP leaders that he is a racist.

You may read a commentary on that story written by Chuah and her colleague Suganthi Supramanian at Big Cat who described the DAP's slander against Johor BN chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who is contesting in a Chinese majority constituency of Gelang Patah as
Reverse Racism

Sorry, I am not feeling well today and going to the clinic in a short while. I think I got a fever and can't write much. You all have to make do with those two links. I will try to do a proper posting later in the day if I feel better.

To go with those links is this World Business interview with Ghani -

Kit Siang depicting Ghani as himself

Just two  days after Ghani Wins Praise From Kit Siang, the Johor Barisan Nasional chairman and outgoing Menteri Besar has suddenly found himself under a very personal attack by the DAP supremo who is his rival for the Gelang Patah seat.

I am of the opinion that Kit Siang is trying to portray Ghani as a racial extremist so that he could neutralize Ghani's most important appeal among especially the Gelang Patah Chinese electorates - a moderate Malay leader who enjoys good relations with the Chinese and other non-Malay communities and has proven himself to be an effective menteri besar for the good of all Johoreans.

This I believe is Lim's tactic for the battle of Gelang Patah. Accuse his rival to be a Malay extremist so that the Chinese majority in the constituency will forget what Ghani had done to develop the place, and at the same time deflect his own racialist tactics and personality by accusing his rival of doing and being exactly that.

The following is the story of Lim's attack yesterday -

Ghani: Kit Siang is getting desperate

SHAHRUM SAYUTHI AND CHUAH BEE KIM | news@nst.com.my

CHEAP SHOT: Gelang Patah BN candidate blasts opponent for insinuating he was a racist

 JOHOR BARU: JOHOR Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman has expressed disappointment that his opponent for the Gelang Patah seat, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, had accused him of playing the race card.

  Ghani said Lim should not resort to  insinuating that he is racist just to gain support from the Chinese voters who made up the majority of constituents in Gelang Patah.

  "I believe that he (Lim) is getting desperate. Everyone knows that I am not racist, and that is why I think he is trying to paint a picture of me being  one," said Ghani to the New Straits Times yesterday.

   Earlier in the day, Lim had called for a press conference where he, among others, had accused Ghani of waging a campaign based on racial sentiments.

  Lim had quoted reports by pro-opposition news portals which suggested that Ghani had tried to scare Gelang Patah voters about the consequences of voting along racial lines.

  "Ghani is sounding more like Perkasa leaders Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin as what he said (as reported by the news portals) is contrary to his image as a moderate, rational and level-headed leader."

  Lim, who was reading a prepared statement, claimed Ghani's rhetorics also indicated that if BN loses in Gelang Patah, the coalition would also lose the Federal Government.

  Ghani in his response stressed that it had never been his intention to scare the Chinese voters as suggested by the pro-opposition news portals.  The websites quoted him as saying that there was a possibility that Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang may become the prime minister of the country in the event the opposition pact wins the general election.

  "All I said was that I have read news reports that the opposition is considering Hadi as a possible prime minister. Just because I said that, does it mean I'm racist?

  "What I actually pointed out was that Malaysians have a choice between someone such as Hadi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak as their prime minister and I believe they should choose the latter.

  "I was not trying to scare the Chinese by saying that. I think that Johoreans whether Chinese, Malays or of other races should reject Hadi because having him as prime minister will be bad for our moderate Johor ways."

  Ghani also believed that Lim's attempt at equating him with leaders of the Malay-rights group Perkasa was aimed at portraying him as a Malay extremist and therefore should be rejected by the Chinese voters in Gelang Patah. DAP leaders are known to use Perkasa as the Malay bogeymen in getting support from especially the Chinese electorate.

   The outgoing Johor Menteri Besar had on nomination day on Saturday stated that he chose to contest in the Chinese-majority Gelang Patah constituency because he did  not want the country to be more racially polarised.

    "I want to defend Johor's moderate ways. That is why I want to contest in Gelang Patah. I don't want these people to bring new things which will divide us."

  Gelang Patah has 106,864 voters comprising 52.4 per cent Chinese, 34.3 per cent Malays, 12.5 per cent Indians and 0.8 per cent others.

Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman (second from left) with Skudai state candidate Liang Ah Chai (left) talking to residents at Taman Melawati, Skudai in Johor Baru. Pic by Mohamad Shahril Badri Saali

Read more: Ghani: Kit Siang is getting desperate - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/ghani-kit-siang-is-getting-desperate-1.262130#ixzz2RGSjI342

DAP's vocabulary : Chinese who support BN are traitors to their race

I decided to write this after my mother called me just now and shared her thoughts about what happened to that Ipoh-born superstar actress Michelle Yeoh.

I can sense her sadness as she said, "Chinese in this country do not have the right to choose anymore...."

Anyway, you all can read what the DAP people think about my mother here - A bit about my Johorean parents 

By the way, as I had mentioned in a previous posting, my mother voted for DAP in 2008.

As for Michelle Yeoh, you can read about what happened to her in this posting by Helen Ang -

 Michelle Yeoh meets DAP 3.0

And this is my favorite action scene acted by Michelle Yeoh -

In that movie, she acted a character of a strong, brave and wise lady. I now believe that she is also strong, brave and wise in real life too. I pray for her to continue to be so.

Kit Siang on Ghani and Ghani's response

The following is a story written by NST Johor-based journalist Chuah Bee Kim. Chuah is also a blogger at A Green Bee In The Rain 雨中的绿蜂. She is also updating her blog for the latest on the happening of GE13 in Johor.

Ghani wins praise from Kit Siang

Chuah Bee Kim | news@nst.com.m

‘A GOOD MAN’: Johor MB has brought development to the state, says DAP leader

JOHOR BARU: DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang has praised  his election opponent Datuk Abdul  Ghani Othman for bringing progress  and development to Johor during his stew ardship of the state.  

Describing his Gelang Patah opponent as a  good man, Lim said the Johor Barisan Na sional chairman had initiated the develop ment of the state.

Lim said he knew Ghani since  the 1980s when the latter became  the deputy minister for energy,  telecommunication and post.    Ghani was then appointed the  deputy minister of Finance from  1990 to 1993.

“I met Ghani (yesterday) this  morning at the nomination centre.   Ghani is the longest-serving  menteri besar, having served for 18  years.  He brought economic  growth and development to Johor  while he was the MBenteri Besar.  He is a good  MBenteri Besar and a good man,” Lim said in  his speech to a 8,000-strong crowd.

He, however, was critical of  Ghani, the BN and its  component party MCA at the ceramah held  near Sutera Mall, here.

Ghani and Lim take on each other in  Gelang Patah,  which has 106,864 voters con sisting of 52.4 per cent Chinese; 34.3 per cent  Malays; 12.5 per cent Indians and 0.8 per cent  of other races.

In the 2008 general election, BN’s Tan Ah  Eng, who is the state MCA Wanita chief, de feated PKR’s Dr Zalina Mustafa with a ma jority of 8,851 votes.

Ghani, meanwhile, just smiled when asked  about Lim’s remarks about him, but declined to  comment on it.

He acknowledged  that contesting the  Gelang Patah parliamentary seat is a daunt ing challenge.

“Lim came to Gelang Patah and I happened  to be in the thick of things in Gelang Patah.  I  am in Johor and right in the centre of it all.

“I believe that Umno president Datuk Seri  Najib Razak has the rakyat’s interest in mind  when he appointed the BN candidate for  Gelang Patah.  I hope I can have the voters’  support based on BN’s policies and prac tices.”

“I urge the people to say “No” to political  polarisation. In the past 56 years,  we have forged an understanding  among the various races, but now  people who have come from Ipoh  and Kelantan are trying to break  up the unity,” he said in his  speech.

“The opposition just wants to  get power by creating disunity,”  he added.

Ghani was speaking after at tending   an event organised by  SWM Environment Sdn Bhd,  where 1,500 garbage bins with  wheels were distributed to some  8,000 residents of Kampung Melayu Desa  Permai, Kg Cina Kangkar Pulai, Taman Pulai  Bestari 2  and Bandar Baru Kankar Pulai flats.

Johor SWM regional manager Dr Al’Ashari  Othman said the bins were given to residents  free under the second phase of the pro gramme, which will see the distribution of a  total of 300,000 bins in areas under the ju risdiction of the Johor Baru Central  Munic ipal Council, Batu Pahat, Kulai and Pontian.

 Under the first phase, a total of 90,000 bins  were distributed in Johor Baru. The last  phase, which consists of the remaining areas  in Johor, is expected to come to a close next  year.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman (second from left) greeting Chinese residents at a function in Taman Melawati in Skudai yesterday.

Read more: Ghani wins praise from Kit Siang - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/ghani-wins-praise-from-kit-siang-1.261398#ixzz2R9dkTkZH

The brave hearts

A commenter wrote this about the Kit Siang-Ghani tussle in my last posting -

Anonymous21 April 2013 18:31

Both are true politicians, as they've given up their safe seats where they can easily win to contest in Gelang Patah. This battle is getting more exciting each day.

Now, lets see the reason why DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang is brave and why Johor BN chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is brave.

Kit Siang moved from Ipoh Timur, a Chinese majority constituency to Gelang Patah, a constituency which over 100,000 voters are made up of almost 53 per cent Chinese. 

In all fairness, Gelang Patah used to be a MCA stronghold. So he is brave in that sense...I guess.

Kit Siang bravery, in my opinion, is the same bravery of Teo Nie Ching, the DAP young heroine who moved from her Chinese majority Serdang to Kulai. Yes, Kulai is also a Chinese majority constituency with about 60 per cent Chinese voters. In fact Kulai is Johor's parliamentary constituency with the largest percentage of Chinese voters.

Kit Siang and Teo Nie Ching have been going around Johor telling everyone that they are brave for leaving their safe seats to venture into enemy territory in Johor.

It was said that Teo Nie Ching is in fact so brave that despite  being a devout Christian like so many other DAP leaders, she dared to give sermons in mosques in Pakatan-ruled Selangor as seen in this picture -

Perhaps, one day we will see the less alluring but similarly brave Kit Siang giving similar sermon at the mosque of Kampung Pekajang in Gelang Patah.

As for Ghani, I believe even the DAP people have to admit that he is brave to contest in the Chinese majority constituency of Gelang Patah at a time when the Chinese community is said to be hostile towards BN and especially Umno. 

Ghani is going to Gelang Patah with just his good track record as Johor MB  and for initiating development such as Iskandar Malaysia which has immensely contributes in turning the once sleepy hollow of Gelang Patah into the most exciting new economic growth centre in the country. He also went there with the belief that he could persuade the Chinese voters in the constituency to choose a better representative based on what has been done in the area by the person instead of just the person's skin color.

Many, including Umno leaders had dismissed Ghani's bravery as being foolhardy. They don't think he will win because they believe that the Chinese majority of Gelang Patah will never vote a Malay, no matter how good he is, over a Chinese.

I want so much to believe that these Ghani's detractors are wrong. 

I want so much for Ghani to be right for being brave because of his belief that his 18 years of clean and effective performance as Menteri Besar will be appreciated by all Johoreans irrespective of race.

I want so much for the voters of Gelang Patah to prove to the rest of the country that they are capable of seeing beyond the ethnicity of those who offer to represent them.

Ghani: Don't polarise political support of people

This is the NST report from Gelang Patah nomination centre yesterday -

INCLUSIVE: Gelang Patah bid to prove BN has support of all races, says MB

JOHOR Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said he chose to contest in the Chinese-majority Gelang Patah parliamentary seat because he did not want to see the country becoming more racially polarised.

Ghani, who is also menteri besar, said there had been attempts to "polarise the political support of the people" and this would upset the multiracial co-existence in the state.

"I am hoping for this racial polarisation not to happen in this 13th General Election. We will defend whatever BN has done for the state and the country all these years.

"As menteri besar of Johor, the state has a good track record and we have been a strong government all these years. From all the parliamentary seats that we have won in the past, it is proven that Johor BN has the support of all communities and races."

Ghani, however, admitted that contesting the Gelang Patah seat was a daunting challenge as he had been the state assemblyman for Serom, Ledang, for 18 years.

"I will, however, take all this in my stride."

Gelang Patah is a constituency of 106,864 voters, consisting of 52.4 per cent Chinese, 34.3 per cent Malays, 12.5 per cent Indians and 0.8 per cent of other races. In the 2008 general election, BN's Tan Ah Eng, who is the state MCA Wanita chief, defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Dr Zalina Mustafa with a majority of 8,851votes.

Ghani, who turned up at the Skudai multipurpose hall nomination centre in a cream-coloured Johor baju Melayu Telok Belanga, is facing DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

His nomination was proposed by Fakhrul Anwar Ramli and seconded by Tan Ba Ba.

On the two new faces -- Dr Zaini Abu Bakar, who is BN hopeful for the Nusajaya state seat and Liang Ah Chy, who is BN's candidate contesting the Skudai state seat -- Ghani said both had their own supporters. Nusajaya and Skudai are state constituencies within the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat.

Over 5,000 supporters from each party accompanied their respective candidates to the nomination centre. The BN supporters were joined by a dragon dance troupe while the opposition's was led by a lion dance troupe.

Policemen keep a close watch as Barisan Nasional supporters accompany their candidates for the Gelang Patah parliamentary and state constituencies to the nomination centre at Skudai multipurpose hall yesterday. Pic by Mohamad Shahril Badri Saali

Read more: Ghani: Don't polarise political support of people - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/ghani-don-t-polarise-political-support-of-people-1.260544?cache=03D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.3D163D03edding-pred-1.1176%2F%3FpFpentwage63Dp%3A%2Fhe3D03Dn63Frea-rti3D19.111w5ii%2Fe%2F7.183967%3Fpage%3D0%2F7.187130%2F7.189124#ixzz2R3NTngcU

I don't respect Dr Boo anymore

I have to admit that I don't really know Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau, who is defending his Skudai seat in this general election.

From what little I previously heard about the man, I had concluded that he is a hardworking wakil rakyat and quite principled for standing up to DAP sec-gen Lim Guan Eng, causing him to be mostly sidelined by the Lim family who reign supreme in the party.

When Dr Boo was still named as DAP's Skudai candidate, I had concluded that he survived the chopping block like what happened to the other DAP assemblymen of Senai, Mengkibol and Bentayan simply because party supremo Lim Kit Siang still need him to work for the Gelang Patah campaign.

By the way, in case you all are not aware, the dropped DAP assemblyman of Mengkibol is going to defend his seat as an independent candidate. That, I will elaborate in another posting if no one else are interested to write about it.

Back to Dr Boo, I had always been under the impression that he is an intelligent person and sincere in his struggle with DAP based on what I heard of him so far.

The only blemish on him which I could recalled was when he accused BN of propagating an "apartheid administration system" by sidelining the non-Malays. I had however attribute that line of thought of Dr Boo to the campaign waged by the DAP leadership to depict the BN government as a Malay administration which practices discriminatory policies against the Chinese.

I had believed that Dr Boo was just trying to toe the line when he accused the BN of being racist. Otherwise, he may not withstand the pressure put on him by the Lim dynasty.

Other than that, I thought Dr Boo is an ok guy, especially when he stood up against Johor PKR chief DS Chua Jui Meng, the MCA reject man.

So, it came as a huge disappointment for me when I listened to his speech at a DAP gathering in Taman Sutera, JB last night.

His speech which was mostly delivered in Mandarin was peppered with stale and childish accusations against BN.

Dr Boo among others talked about Malaysia's submarines not being able to submerge causing the recent intrusion of Sulu gunmen into Sabah. He said the Sulu gunmen had managed to avoid being intercepted because they can see the submarines floating on the surface as they are incapable to go underwater.

Apparently Dr Boo failed to remember that his party's secretary general had once given a ride in one of those submarines and had experienced it diving under the surface of the sea.

Then Dr Boo talked about how Pakatan will send DS Najib Razak as Malaysian ambassador to Mongolia in an apparent reference to the Altantuya case where the opposition had been trying to convince the people of Najib's involvement. Dr Boo was actually trying to be cute but I think he failed miserably in that case. It was so lame of Dr Boo for trying that stunt.

He also made fun of DS Dr Chua Soi Lek and former MCA MP for Raub DS Ng Yen Yen by making insinuations that Dr Chua is a porn star and Ng as an opportunist who is so vain that she is mostly concerned about the size of her bra more than anything else.

And with that, I think Dr Boo has sunk into gutter politics just to please Kit Siang for the survival of his political career.

Honestly, I don't think so highly of Dr Boo anymore.

Nomination Day - updates : DAP's U turn etc

( Note: Updates at the second half of the posting)

At the moment I'm writing this, Johor BN chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and his supporters are having a prayer session at his official residence Saujana.

They are praying for strength and blessings as they are going into this electoral battle. They are praying for the Gelang Patah folks and the rest of Malaysians to be given the wisdom to choose the right people to form the government which could ensure the continuation of this country's progress and racial harmony.

I have no idea what DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and his supporters are doing right now.

Both side will gather at the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council headquarters for the filing of nomination at 9am.

I am going there now and will update this posting later in the day.

UPDATES

I was outside the Gelang Patah nomination centre when I received news that DAP sec-gen Lim Guan Eng had cancelled the party's plan to use their allies' symbols and instead stick to their Rocket.

So, the whole thing of his father crying and blaming MCA for DAP's CEC election woes were just gimmicks.

Earlier, the first to arrive among the BN supporters team were members of the MCA Gelang Patah led by their chief Jason Teoh.

Ghani, whose arrival was greeted with a dragon dance was wearing the full suit of cream colored Johor's baju Melayu teluk belanga, complete with samping and songkok. He was joined by BN candidates for Nusajaya state seat Dr Zaini Abu Bakar and Skudai state seat, Liang Ah Chy.

Ghani will face DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang while Dr Zaini will square of with Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub and Liang will contest against Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau.

Among the about 5,000 BN supporters were MCA president DS Dr Chua Soi Lek and other State BN leaders. They sang the "Barisan Kita" as they marched to the nomination centre. Also with them were members of MIC, Gerakan, PPP and other BN component parties.

Kit Siang and company arrived with almost the same number of supporters.

It is heartening to note that the BN crowd was more multi racial than those of the Pakatan who were dominated by members of the Chinese community.

A nut case also turned up wanting to contest as an independent  against Ghani and Kit Siang but withdrew without filing his nomination papers.

After the nomination process has been finalized and candidates names were announced, Ghani told reporters that he decided to contest in the Chinese majority Gelang Patah constituency because he does not want to see the country become even more racially polarized.

I believe he wants to give the opportunity for the Gelang Patah folks, especially the Chinese community there the chance to prove that Malaysians will reject attempts to divide them further along racial lines.

It was a day of many surprises when numerous independent candidates turned up as spoilers to a straight fight between BN and Pakatan.

The most funny among them was perhaps the 80s singer Herman Tino, who will contest in his kampung at Tanjong Karang. The singer who is most famous back then for his Javanese songs probably got the cue from other 80s singers such as Pas' Aishah in Jempul and PKR's Dayangku Intan in Pengerang.

The most disappointing, or even tragic among the independents is Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim who quit as Umno Wanita deputy chief to contest as an independent in Kuala Kangsar.

DAP must know of Pas' modification

This is the weekly posting by Ai, formerly of the BigCat blog -

By Ai

It looks like DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has made up his mind for DAP candidates to contest using Pas' moon symbol in the Peninsular and PKR' eye symbol in Sabah and Sarawak.

This despite the Registrar of Societies saying that DAP can still use their Rocket symbol even though they are under investigation for manipulating the party's central executive committee election in December last year.

Kit Siang gave two press conferences to tell every one of his decision (last night and this morning) and at both occasions he was so sad that he cried. The 72-year-old-old man was very distraught, it appeared. He sure got lot of tears, I guess.

He blamed MCA for the whole thing.

Poor MCA, got blamed for everything not going the DAP's way these days.

Well, actually, I don't really believe that DAP was forced to abandon their Rocket symbol. No one is forcing them isn't it?

The whole thing is to me is about just them playing the victim game. They know they need all the sympathy votes.

Kit Siang, particularly was very rattled when BN changed their game plan by fielding Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman against him in Gelang Patah.

Just imagine what if he lose to Ghani in that Chinese majority constituency. It will not only spell the end of his career but also more importantly the end of racial politics in Malaysia. DAP's biggest weapon is playing with the Chinese sentiments and if this is broken in Gelang Patah, DAP would not have much left to play with in future.

Now that Kit Siang knows the tide is turning for DAP and their allies, especially among the Malay Muslim voters, I believe that the move by them to show that they are willing to use Pas' symbol is actually to appeal to the Malays to support them.

After all, they know that their hardcore supporters among the non-Malay Muslims have always ready to vote on the Pas' moon symbols and therefore they are not going to lose from that voters bank. You can read about that at Helen Ang's blog here

Bulan jatuh ke riba, DAP dapat undi percuma Melayu

Anyway, I still think it's not going to work for DAP, because Pas themselves are having troubles of their own. 

In fact, Pas is said to have modified their symbol due to some internal problems. So DAP candidates who will be using Pas symbol for nomination tomorrow need to pay close attention to the following due to the modification -

This modification of Pas symbol was initiated by this man, who allegedly is a senior Pas leader

Pas people, however, said that guy is not this guy who is their party's secretary general.

Well, don't know lah, up to you all to believe whatever....

Jason is a good man

This is indeed a good news

Gelang Patah MCA division chief declares support for Ghani

JOHOR BARU: MCA Gelang Patah division chief Jason Teoh declared that he would give unwavering support for Datuk Seri Ghani Othman who will be contesting in the Gelang Patah state seat soon.

Jason, who was rumoured to harbour plans to stand as an independent candidate, cleared the air yesterday.

"I love MCA and BN. No matter what happens,  I'll be with them as they are the ones who champion the real cause of service for people.

"I will do my best to make sure my comrade, Datuk Ghani will win the seat,"said Jason at the MCA gathering with the public held last night.

"When our brother Ghani wins, we would be there to help him to help the people of Gelang Patah," he said.

 -
Read more: Gelang Patah MCA division chief declares support for Ghani - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/gelang-patah-mca-division-chief-declares-support-for-ghani-1.259135#ixzz2Qt2nX8zM

And Jason was with Johor BN chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman for a walk- about at the Gelang Patah town this morning.

"I am a BN man. I will support Datuk Ghani. It is just not only me who will support Datuk Ghani but my entire machinery," he declared as he stood by Ghani's side.

Jason led Ghani and the other local BN leaders to meet the constituents and introduced the outgoing MB to some Chinese shopkeepers and their clients.

They spend some time having coffee at a kopitiam.

Ghani and the BN team were well received by those they met today.

My mother is angry with Guan Eng

I was yesterday told by mother to read an article by pro-Pakatan Malaysian Insider but only managed to do so just now.

Her only comment about the article was "How can Guan Eng be so arrogant and childish..."

Only after reading the article that I understand why my mother was unhappy with Guan Eng.

My mother had met Ghani and despite being a staunch DAP supporter, she thinks that Ghani is a good man who has done a lot for Johor.

Based on the Malaysian Insider report, the way Guan Eng as Penang chief minister attacked Ghani in his capacity as an outgoing Menteri Besar is indeed unbecoming. I have to agree with my mother, I think that he is behaving like a kindergarten bully.

I can understand that he needs to promote his father for the election, but I think he should show some "class" as a chief minister.

Now I'm not very sure whether my mother will vote for DAP again as she did in 2008.

I'm reproducing here the Malaysian Insider article in full and highlighted the parts which I think had irked my mother. I hope the Malaysian Insider people don't mind so much. Here is the link to that article - Umno sending MB-discard to Gelang Patah

Umno sending MB-discard to Gelang Patah, says Guan Eng

 KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 ― Lim Guan Eng took aim at Datuk Ghani Othman last night as the man “Umno no longer wants as MB”, as he went on the stump in Johor for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and his father, Lim Kit Siang, DAP’s candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in Election 2013.

Speaking to thousands of supporters gathered at the nearby Kulai constituency, the DAP secretary-general also attacked MCA for giving up the Gelang Patah seat to Umno’s Ghani, suggesting that party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek did not dare take on Kit Siang.

“Ghani is someone that Umno no longer wants as MB... so MCA has willingly given up a seat it has held for 50 years.

“If the MCA had any self-respect it would have told Umno it would even defend Gelang Patah in a three-cornered fight. At least then people will have some respect for MCA,” he told the rally.

Ghani was named yesterday as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Gelang Patah federal seat, which is seen as paving the way for Datuk Seri Khaled Noordin to take over as Johor mentri besar.

Gelang Patah is shaping up as the contest that will define PR’s push into the Umno bastion state.

The MCA seat was “loaned” to Umno after party president Dr Chua decided to sit out the May 5 general election.

Kit Siang is expected to leverage the Chinese majority in the federal seat but BN believes Ghani, who helmed Johor for four terms, may be able to keep the seat from falling into PR’s hands.

Gelang Patah has 106,864 voters, with Chinese voters making up 52 per cent in the constituency, while Malays and Indians account for 34 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.

Last night, Guan Eng whipped up the emotions of the mostly-Chinese crowd at the Kulai rally by condemning Dr Chua and MCA.

“We have sent a heavyweight to contest Gelang Patah. In DAP, there is no bigger heavyweight than Lim Kit Siang. But Chua Soi Lek the MCA president does not dare to come.

“Instead he is sending Ghani Othman. I am not sure if MCA has joined Umno or Umno has joined MCA,” he said.

The battle for Gelang Patah has become heated in the past weeks with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad leading BN’s attacks against the DAP and Kit Siang.

Last week, Dr Mahathir said that a Kit Siang win in Gelang Patah will result in racial confrontation and argued that Chinese-Malay economic partnership will be ruined.

The former PM issued a warning that Lim’s victory in the southern state would trigger racial clashes that would replace the existing co-operation between the Malay majority and Chinese community.

Azmi on Gelang Patah

I'm in no shape to write at the moment.

So, I'm putting this piece by NST's Azmi Anshar instead -

Ghani calls Kit Siang's bluff

GLADIATOR VS EMPEROR: The fight for Gelang Patah is the battle to end all battles

THE bombardment of Barisan Nasional politicians/hopefuls flashed persistently through the SMS news alerts yesterday morning, all bewildering, breathless even, for a quick and casual reading of the implications.

But as the expectations and mild surprises settled (no shock that several long-serving ministers were dropped), the list of BN candidates offered for Saturday's nominations that elicited probable major fights could not eclipse the formidable battle shaping up in Gelang Patah.

It is a small typical Malaysian town 25km from Johor Baru more known for hosting the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link and the delicacy otak-otak but Gelang Patah is also the stage for the battle to end all battles, if you are so inclined to be seduced by the constituency's hype and shuddering consequences.

For those who have just crawled out of their shells, Gelang Patah will host the titanic battle between DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and former Johor menteri besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, the aged emperor challenged by the younger gladiator in an intriguing game of political poker.

When Lim was announced as the Pakatan Rakyat candidate for Gelang Patah, his rivals reacted with a mix of incredulity and a sinking feeling: Lim in Gelang Patah, despite being a traditional BN stronghold, might win handily on the mosh pit of Chinese support.

Suddenly, Jason Teoh, the MCA grassroots leader groomed to maintain the lock on Gelang Patah, looked vulnerable: against Lim's stature, Teoh can't even begin to quote favourable odds.

The definitive reason Lim dumped his Ipoh Timur incumbency for Gelang Patah was simple: he figured that since Ipoh Timur was already a cakewalk for DAP, it was logical that he extended his "winning influence" to other Chinese-dominated parliamentary seats that hadn't been a DAP's fixed deposit.

Besides, it could help materialise Pakatan's boast of conquering Putrajaya, Lim reasoned too and that's why he had asserted a takeover that echoes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's swank.

Lim is by nature a restless political journeyman who built a career peddling an ethnocentric ideology sugar-coated with multiracialism but fuelled actually by Orwellian hypocrisy.

Witness the dynastic stranglehold he and his son has over DAP despite preaching democracy, DAP's inability to elect a single Malay candidate to its central executive committee and continued dependence on Chinese-dominated seats while inanely challenging nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to contest in Gelang Patah, all in the name of multiracialism in ironies over ironies he condescendingly ignores.

Somehow, Lim's braying stuttered barely days ago after the masterstroke that was so ballsy and unprecedented that it was ingeniously simple: why not pit Ghani against Lim?

For once, the supremely confident Lim was conspicuously rattled, only because he didn't see it coming until it was too late.

Flummoxed by the audacity of BN's masterstroke, Lim reacted with typical hyperbole: he was not only battling a "life-and-death" political battle against a four-term menteri besar but also taking aim from the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and a certain former prime minister, whom he intends to sue for having the gall to identify him for what he really is.

On top of that, Lim just had to take a dig at MCA with another trademark hyperbole: criticising MCA for surrendering its stronghold to Umno and demanding MCA give up 58 more seats to Umno.

For all his bluster, Lim now realises that he has to fight toe-to-toe with a genuine Malaysian, a menteri besar who commanded the support and appreciation of the Chinese community in the 20 years he managed Johor.

If there was an Umno leader who was the epitome of 1Malaysia other than Datuk Seri Najib Razak, it was Ghani and this reputation is making Lim quiver in apprehension, thus his frivolous whining.

On the other hand, Ghani is not only calling Lim's bluff in this gritty political poker game but also raising the no-limit ante to its highest, shoving everything that he's got to force Lim to break the bank just to take a peek at the cards Ghani is holding.

In a nutshell, a Ghani win will cement his reputation forever besides delivering a towering morale booster for BN. A loss meant he bravely took a hit for the party.

A Lim win is just that, a win that forced the Chinese voters into a Catch-22, just like Penangites did when they had to choose between Lim and Tan Sri Dr Lim Chong Eu in 1995. But a loss will result in opprobrium and, possibly, Lim committing the ultimate political seppuku.

Sure, some parliamentary contests demand close attention -- Lembah Pantai, Putrajaya, Segamat, Keningau, Shah Alam -- but none will be as fascinating and riveting as the battle for Gelang Patah.

Read more: Ghani calls Kit Siang's bluff - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/ghani-calls-kit-siang-s-bluff-1.258199#ixzz2Qmrf61TD