Stop the violence and Intimidation now! – BERSIH

By Shed Shahir Syed Mohamud

Chairman, BERSIH 

BERSIH condemns the violence and acts of intimidation which have taken place in Ijok since nomination day on 19 April 2007.

The acts of violence and intimidation were reported to continue during the campaign period and till today, we have not heard of any action being taken by the police. The Elections Commission (EC) too has failed to take the necessary steps to ensure that the campaign period will be free from such incidents despite being alerted to the incident on nomination period.

BERSIH is deeply concerned with the current developments in Ijok and fear that these incidents will become the norm if no proper action is taken by the EC. BERSIH feels that it is the sole responsibility of the EC to take all necessary steps through multi-party arrangement to ensure that the campaign and election process is free from violence and intimidation.

The EC also has a duty to investigate these incidents and take action by referring these incidents to the police for further action. These duties are vested in the EC as stated in Section 8 of the Election Act that stipulates that the EC is to exercise control and supervision over the conduct of elections.

BERSIH views that the EC must exercise these powers in the interest of the voters and in accordance with the principles of free and fair elections that provide for the creation of a climate in which parties can organize, candidates can campaign, and voters can cast their votes free of violence and intimidation.

Further, the EC has a responsibility to ensure free and fair elections as a body representing a country which is a signatory to the Declaration On Criteria For Free And Fair Elections, which was adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council in Paris in March 1994.

Article 4 of the Declaration, among others, stipulates the responsibilities of the States to take all necessary and appropriate measures to ensure that the parties and candidates are able to cast their ballots freely without fear or intimidation and to take the necessary measures to ensure that parties, candidates and supporters enjoy equal security, and that state authorities take the necessary steps to prevent electoral violence.

Article 4 also specifically placed the responsibilities that violations of human rights and complaints relating to the electoral process are determined promptly within the time frame of the electoral process and effectively by an independent and impartial authority,such as an electoral commission or the courts.

The EC is therefore responsible to ensure such standards as a state authority that is given the full power to exercise control over election in Malaysia by the Federal Constitution.

BERSIH deeply regrets the narrow approach taken by the EC on its role when it washed its hands off the question of security, as reported in the media on 22 April 2007.

BERSIH is concerned that if the violence and threats continue — coupled with police inaction — there may be the inevitable backlash from opposition supporters who are unlikely to take the threats lying down.

If violence cannot be prevented or contained in a by-election, what would happen in the general elections? If elections are conducted within a violent and fearful environment, on top of fraud and irregularities, the government chosen as a result of the elections will lack legitimacy, putting the viability of Malaysian democracy in crisis.

BERSIH therefore urges the EC to immediately investigate the violence reported in the campaign process in Ijok and make an open report to the police for further action.

We also urge the EC to make all necessary security arrangement with the police and other agencies to prevent other such incidents from taking place.

BERSIH’s view is that that the EC should consider postponing the by-election should more of such incidents continue.

We call upon all Malaysians and international bodies to pay close attention to these undesirable developments in the country, for the sake of democracy and rule of law. This disturbing trend must stop right now.

ADDENDUM:

1. Around 11.30am on Saturday, 21 April 2007, a KeADILan Ijok committee member reported that three young Malay men in a black BMW stopped several times along the main road of Kampung Jaya Setia,taking down all the keADILan flags. The witness has lodged a police report on the incident.

On top of that, the landlord of the premises which KeADILan was using as an operations centre has been ordered by the authorities to ‘close up shop’. The landlord’s son – a government employee at Shah Alam – was threatened with a transfer to Sarawak if he (the landlord) allowed KeADILan to continue renting the premises.

2. On the same day (Saturday), blogger/photographer Jeff Ooi, a photographer friend and KeADILAN candidate, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, were having lunch when a man in Pemuda BN uniform went over to their table and verbally intimidated Tan Sri Khalid. Seeing that the mob then tried prevent Tan Sri Khalid’s car from leaving the area, Ooi and his friend hurried to leave in their car but were stopped by about 20 men. One of the Pemuda BN members, seeing that the car window was half-wound down, then threw a broken water bottle, at close range, at Ooi’s friend and broke his spectacles. He had cuts below the eye as a result of that encounter. A police report has also been lodged on the incident.

3. In another incident over the weekend, student group Youth for Change (Y4C) was verbally threatened while they were conducting an election-related survey at an estate near Ijok. The 40 students led by convener Lee Khai Loon were threatened with trouble if they did not stop “disturbing” the workers. A man then threatened to “bring 100 more” people if the group did not leave the estate. MP for Cameron Highlands, SK Devamany, also reprimanded Lee for breaching the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) which prohibits student participation in political activities.

Apa langkah Dolah sekarang?

Oleh Ahmad Zaki Yamani

Pilihanraya Ijok disifatkan oleh Abdullah Badawi sebagai penolakan rakyat terhadap keADILan dan Anwar Ibrahim. Jika ini beliau yakini sebagai hakikat dan kebenaran, maka sekarang adalah masa yang paling tepat untuk Abdullah membubarkan Parlimen dan mengadakan Pilihanraya Umum.

Sebagai pemimpin yang bertanggungjawab hanya kepada kepentingan dan kemenangan Barisan Nasional, Abdullah tidak seharusnya membiarkan peluang ini berlalu. Beliau perlu segera mengadakan pilihanraya dan meraih kemenangan yang lebih besar daripada kemenangan terbesar yang dicapainya pada tahun 2004.

Kemenangan kali ini boleh lebih besar sekiranya peratusan keluar mengundi melebihi 80% seperti yang berlaku di Ijok.

Namun apakah ini hakikat yang berlaku di Ijok?

Abdullah tahu sebenarnya penolakan terhadap keADILan tidak berlaku di Ijok. Undi popular untuk keADILan meningkat 100% bagi Daerah Mengundi Pekan Ijok dan 50% di Batang Berjuntai berbanding 2004. Kedua-dua daerah ini mempunyai populasi pengundi Cina yang besar.

Di Daerah-daerah dengan populasi Melayu yang besar, keADILan tidak mencatatkan kemerosotan yang begitu besar. Apa yang berlaku ialah peningkatan jumlah keluar mengundi yang begitu besar sehingga memberikan kemenangan kepada BN di daerah-daerah ini kecuali Kampung Ijok yang tetap dimenangi oleh keADILan.

Bas-bas dari luar yang dipercayai membawa pengundi hantu juga dikesan di Bukit Badong, kawasan Melayu yang dimenangi keADILan pada 2004 dan kali ini dimenangi tipis oleh BN. Pada hari mengundi dua bas dari Perlis ditahan di Bukit Badong, dipercayai selepas penumpangnya ‘mengunjungi’ pusat pembuangan undi. Pada hari sebelumnya (27 April 2007, saya sendiri mengesan dua bas yang lain dari Pokok Sena, Kedah. Juga di Bukit Badong.

Bukit Badong adalah bersebelahan dengan Jaya Setia. Kedua-duanya mempunyai populasi Melayu yang besar dan kedua-dua daerah ini yang menjadi ‘upset’ utama kepada keADILan.

Saya percaya Abdullah maklum sepenuhnya bagaimana mereka menang di Ijok, yakni melalui penipuan. Sokongan rakyat tidak meningkat, malah semakin merosot kepada BN.

Kerana itu Abdullah tidak akan mengadakan pilihanraya dengan segera. Dalam keadaan sokongan masyarakat Cina kepada BN merosot teruk, BN tidak akan mampu melakukan penipuan dan mengadakan hantu di seluruh negara.

Bukan sahaja MCA dan Gerakan akan menghadapi kesan buruk, malah UMNO sendiri akan goyah dengan keadaan sekarang. Calon-calon UMNO bukan semata-mata bertanding di kawasan Melayu sahaja. Ramai juga yang bertanding di kawasan di mana kehadiran pengundi Cina adalah signifikan, seperti di Shah Alam misalnya.

Kerana itu UMNO, seperti pada 1999, bergantung kepada sokongan Cina untuk hidup. Kali ini, dalam keadaan keyakinan Melayu kepada kepimpinan ‘gigi longgar’ Abdullah sedang merosot, ketiadaan sokongan pengundi Cina akan membahayakan calon-calon UMNO sendiri.

Jadi, saya kira Abdullah perlu terus menunggu ilham.

 

Ahmad Zaki Yamani ialah EXCO Angkatan Muda Malaysia dan Ketua Penerangan keADILan Selangor.

KEADILAN: STRUGGLE ON FOR VICTORY!

S. Husin Ali,
KeADILan Deputy President

A day after election in Ijok, the keADILan Supreme Leadership Council (MPT) met. It was a routine monthly meeting, but much time was spent to analyse and discuss the bye-election and its results. Despite the “defeat”, leaders present, which included Dr Wan Azizah (President), Anwar Ibrahim (Advisor) and TS Khalid (Candidate) were all in high spirit and optimistic mood.

The meeting reaffirmed the party stand, as announced by our candidate at a press conference after the results were announced. KeADILan disputes the results of the bye-election and condemns the dirty tactics adopted by Umno-Bn, with the help of the police and the Election Commission (EC). The Party will launch a vigorous campaign in the country and among the international community to expose these.

We found numerous evidences of cheating, bribery and intimidation. Many examples have been given through the internet. Full details are being systematically gathered and compiled for preparation of an exhaustive report to be used in the campaign to expose the bye-election and to call for reforms of the EC, the election laws as well as the processes of elections in Malaysia. This is to ensure that all future elections will be free and fair.

Ijok revealed that the Umno-Bn continues to use its long tested 3M Strategy to perpetrate large scale cheating, bribery and intimidation in order to win elections. The 3M refer to Machinery, Media and Money.

M1: MACHINERY

As clearly evident in Ijok, with plenty of money available, the Umno-Bn as expected was able to mobilize quite effectively its party machinery. Although they can be admired for being able to do so, we protest strongly the use of government machinery, especially the EC and the police, which continue unashamedly to serve the parties in government, instead of being independent.

The EC has all along failed (deliberately?

) to clear the electoral rolls of phantom voters. A large number of dead persons still have their names registered as voters in Ijok. But several of them “came out” to vote, and we have identified them. There are names of 31 persons over the age of 100 years in the Ijok rolls. None of them appeared to have come out to vote. Do they really exist? If so, have their votes been cast by phantom voters?

A number of houses registered more than 5 and up to 15 voters at their addresses. Our party workers could not trace them, and in fact were informed that not as many people normally lived in those houses. Further, our party workers making house to house checks found that there were about 1000 registered voters whose identity and whereabouts could not be traced, and not known to local residents.

All these constitute what could become phantom voters. When public complaints were made about them, the EC Secretary had the cheek to say, “If they have their feet on the ground, they cannot be phantoms”. Was he joking? If so, he was being irresponsible; it was certainly unbecoming for a person holding his position to joke on this serious matter.

As for the police, they came in full force – in uniform, without uniform, on horse backs and in hovering helicopters. The official number announced by the police themselves was that there were 1500 of them. This works out to be one police officer for every eight voters. Even the IGP Musa Hassan was there.

Some said he could not trust his top officers in charge of the district of Kuala Selangor and the State of Selangor. Or was he indeed, as suspected by many, carrying out some covert role in collaboration with the highest political leadership in government, to make sure Umno-Bn wins? The IGP has vested interest to see keADILan and Anwar defeated.

The police came to disrupt at least seven keADILan rallies (ceramah) with the excuse that they were held without police permit. In all cases, keADILan had informed the police of their intention to hold those ceramah. It is ridiculous and undemocratic to demand for police permit during an election campaign. More ridiculous, when applications were made for permits to hold eleven ceramah near voting day, three were rejected on the curious excuse that the DPM and the Information Department were having their functions nearby. What can be more discriminatory?

I daresay that all the police attempts to stop kADILan ceramah after they have begun were deliberately done as acts of provocation. From the way they were acting, it was obvious that the police wanted to provoke the organizers and the crowd to respond aggressively and cause disturbance or disorder. They wanted to show in front of the many cameras from TV stations as well as Special Branch TV squads,which were already there, that keADILan was a rowdy party. They were disappointed of course, because in all cases, the organizers and the crowd acted with restraint and dispersed calmly and peacefully.

There was another dubious role believed to be played by a selected number of police officers not in uniform. We have been very reliably informed by certain Umno as well as police sources that they were used as phantom voters. They used false identity cards and part of over 2000 marked ballot papers that had earlier been kept at the police station/s. Most of these voters came during the last half an hour of voting. Apparently, some of them even cast more than one vote. These allegations must be investigated.

M2: MEDIA

As for the mainstream media, which are owned, controlled or influenced by the governing parties or their proxies, they went to town to spread government propaganda. Statements and activities of government leaders were given full coverage. But opposition leaders, especially Anwar, Kit Siang and Ustaz Hadi, were blacked out. There were spins and disinformation galore against the keADILan candidate, leaders and party.

Anwar’s modest dancing movement in a rally, where Indian music was played to entertain the audience, was repeatedly broadcast over the government owned and controlled television stations. The accompanying commentary stated bluntly that Anwar as a Muslim was committing an un-Islamic act. Clearly this borders on libel, for which Anwar can take legal recourse if he chooses to.

Worse still was a clip showing as if the keADILan candidate called for support of Umno-Bn. This was regularly aired during news hour for a couple of days. It might have been a genuine slip on the part of the candidate or the TV station could have cleverly removed “jangan” (don’t) from his call “jangan undi Bn …” (don’t vote for Bn) to make it sound “undi Bn …” (vote Bn).

Be that as it may, there was no doubt that the TV station acted in the most unethical and opportunistic manner to cause confusion among voters as well as many viewers outside Ijok. No opportunity was given at all to the candidate to explain. This could happen because in this country, as often demonstrated especially during elections, there is hardly any free, responsible and ethical mainstream media.

M3: MONEY

As for the third M, Money, it was used to the fullest extent to bribe voters. There was rampant public and private bribery. Three days before nomination, the Selangor Menteri Besar announced that the state government had decided to allocate RM36 million, to be spent fully during the campaign period for improving public facilities, especially roads, drains, street lights and so forth. In the course of the election campaigns, the Deputy PM announced huge allocations for building a new mosque (RM5 million) and repairing an old one (RM800,000) as well as for temples and many others.

It is alleged that about RM100 million of public (more appropriately rakyat – people’s) money had been spent for all kinds of development projects aimed at buying votes. The government has not come out with any denial of this figure. Working on the basis of RM36 million, it means that about RM3000 per head was spent for the 12,000 or so voters. Obviously, the amount spent on each voter is nearly RM9000 per head, if calculated on the basis of RM100 million spent.

These are blatant cases of public bribery. But the EC Chairman quickly explained after the RM36 million was announced, that this did not constitute bribery. The law said so, said he. True. But certainly it is an unjust and immoral law. It discriminates against the opposition. If this kind of public bribery happened in other countries, including many in Asia, there would have been public outcry and government could fall. But not here.

What is less known is of course private bribery – especially money given through Umno-Bn leaders and election workers to individual voters. A number of voters readily admitted they were promised and given from RM100 to RM500 to vote for the Mic-Bn candidate. A number even mentioned RM1000. But the recipients are unwilling to make public disclosure for fear of being prosecuted and convicted under the law.

IMPLICATIONS

What are the important implications of the Ijok bye-election?

First, there is need to thoroughly expose the electoral malpractices of the Umno-Bn government. At the same time, the call for reform of the EC which, together with the police, connive with the government party leaders to perpetuate these malpractices, need to be stepped up and sustained locally and internationally.

Second, during the upcoming General Elections, the Umno-Bn will not be able to get strong police support as in Ijok. Their financial resources for each constituency will also be limited, for public or private bribery. Can they afford to spend RM36 million even for each Parliamentary (not to say State) constituency? This would mean they need to have nearly RM8 billion to fight the General Elections.

Third, if the trend of the Chinese swing to keADILan, as shown in Ijok, continues and at the same time around 50% of Malay support is retained, then Umno-Bn position during the General Elections, especially in the mixed constituencies, which form important bases of their strength, will be in jeopardy. They realize this, and that is why PM Abdullah Badawi announced that the results of all four past bye-elections must be studied. Be prepared for massive attempts to buy Chinese support till general election time.

Fourth, keADILan has demonstrated in Ijok that it can get the three main parties in opposition, together with many Ngo’s, to forge strong electoral cooperation in support of an Opposition candidate. This augers well for the 12th General Elections.

Fifth, it is very clear that Anwar Ibrahim is now firmly committed to keADILan, and he has emerged as undisputed leader of the Party and the Opposition. The talk about him going back to Umno should be no more. Even the Umno is forced to say that it will not readmit Anwar, although at no time has he applied for readmission.

Sixth, it has to be admitted that the overall organization and electoral machinery of keADILan is still weak. There is lot to be done and quickly, to improve this. If the party members, organizations and machinery are strong, it would be easy for keADILan to mobilize voters to reject the 3M and rebuff all cheating, intimidation and bribery.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that keADILan can stand tall because it has won a moral victory. Despite all the odds, it still manages to win more than 41% of the votes cast. Morally, it is Umno-Bn that has lost, because all their dirty tricks, carried out with the help of the EC and the police, have been exposed further. Although they have won all the recent bye-elections, there is no doubt that when they look carefully at the general trends of voting, Umno-Bn will be more than just worried. Now, keADILan and its partners have to work, persevere and sacrifice hard and in close cooperation to earn victory.

(husinsa23@yahoo.com)
1 May, 2007

Will the real magician please stand up.

by Ahmad Zaki Yamani

In the April 29, 2007 New Sunday Times, Kalimullah Hassan asked, in his front page article, “Can handkerchiefs fly?” He narrated the story of a young boy fascinated by a ‘magician’s’ claim that he can make a handkerchief fly. The purpose of the magic show is to attract onlookers to buy the ‘minyak geliga’ he was selling.

When confronted by the boy, the magician said, “Hang bodoh kah? Mana boleh sapu tangan terbang.” (Are you stupid or what? How can a handkerchief fly?)

Kali was equating the magician with Anwar Ibrahim and Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the Ijok by-election. They came, tell high tales and vanish to the next stop, so he said

I would like to share my experience with roadsides magician. A few years back when I was at the Sungai Buloh mosque for my Friday prayers, I stopped at the gates. There a man claimed he can make money – real bank notes – from pieces of newspaper.

This I have to see. He told many tales. But in the end he burnt some newspaper in a steel plate and placed it in an empty wooden box. After some mantras, his assistant opens the box and to the amazement of all present, it was filled with one ringgit notes.

He invited people to touch the money and even take some. It sure looks like real money – not the new crisp ones, but used notes. I dare not put my hands on any for fear that the few ringgits I have in my pockets will instead find its way in to the box.

The magician then brought out some small keris and offers them to the crowd at RM100  a piece. He said, with the keris, anybody can make money on their own. People took out their wallets and cash was exchanged with the small keris, neatly placed in envelopes.

He promised to make 50 and 100 ringgit notes afterwards. More people took up the offer of owning a money-making-keris on hearing that.

Just about when the keris were sold out, the sound of azan was heard. The magician being the ‘pious’ man he is quickly wrapped his trade and urged everybody to go to the mosque. He will mint the 50 and 100 ringgit notes he promised after prayers.

Now, this is a true story. It happened in Sungai Buloh, just next door to Ijok. Last week during the Ijok by-election, I see Khairy, Najib, Samy and the rest of the BN folks turn magicians. They were minting money for Ijok. Khir Toyo (the worst and most idiotic magician of them all) promises more after the election.

But the RM36 million question is, will they all still be in Ijok after the “buy”-election? Or would they move on to mint more money elsewhere, hand out loose change to the people and keep promising the 50s and 100s while, in actual fact, keeping all the real big money to themselves?

Come on Kali, you know the real story. Will they actually hand out the big money? Then, show me the real colour of money – now that the election is over and done with!

Ijok and the eclipse of reason

By Azly Rahman

In Ijok last Saturday, did the people vote wisely?

Or did they vote for the continuation of the use of totalitarian instruments such as the Internal Security Act, Universities and University Colleges Act, irrational preferential treatments, unsolved mysteries of massive corruption cases, rise of dynasties, political violence, postponement of trial of hideous political murders, abuse of “at-risk youths”, political-economy of controlling interests, age-old vendetta, hideous nature of the separation of power between the executive, legislative, and judiciary, and an ever-growing range of complex “rational” acts that have become our “political culture”?

What does “wise” mean? Is the level of wisdom dependent upon the levels of consciousness of the different “class” and “caste” of people?

Looks like the middle class is co-opted to support the dominant political group, the lower-class is busy making ends meet, and the lowest class is now the unsung heroes of the postmodern indentured slavery.

We do not have yet have a critical mass that can think critically to effect critical change.

Beginning or end?

Is Ijok the end or the beginning of a better evolution of a system of check and balances? Is it a Hegelian-styled emergence of political consciousness that saw the power of sophisticated blogging and Prime Media spinning and raw kampong-styled voting realism as a creative play of election hypocrisy?

If the Opposition actually brought “instant and irrational development projects” to Ijok, will this trend continue? Will the presence of the Opposition drain the ruling party of goodies – just like how the American Empire is drained off of resources with the presence of massive, subaltern forces of resistance in the case of Iraq?

These are some questions that we will need to answer, as a nation. Ijok was a beginning of an end – end of an ignorance of how campaigning work, of how politicians behave, or how promises are made, and how many millions are spent to buy votes.

Our road to political wisdom is long and winding. Man is defined by the economic condition they are in, Marx would argue. Could this be the definition of the voters in Ijok? In this electorate we read so much about instant political gratifications given by the government, as if the regime is spending its last dollar to appease the masses that have actually learned what a “protest vote” means. Very sophisticated voters we have who now know how to play with authority and to counter-hegemonize.

But where does ethics and morality lies both in the giver and the receiver? What have all the slogans – from “bersih, cekap, amanah” to “bukan harta dunia yang ku cari ” – done to the masses when elections such as Ijok come? Where are we going as a nation when we no longer have any shame through all the sleek, sophisticated, selfish, soul-less, and slimy strategies we read concerning the choosing of a leader in a sleepy-constituency-turned-case study of the semiotics of power/knowledge and signs, symbols and signification of “Boleh-land”?

Where is truth?

What was that by-election about? Can we ever know the truth? Is this “truth”, like the “Butterfly Effect,” multiply in the next General Election?

Any changes in the system, however random and small it is can create major shifts in the ecosystem, as such as the flap of a butterfly wing in the Amazon some ten years ago that will have created hurricanes and thunderstorms in New Orleans – such is a “Butterfly Effect”. Of the impact of randomness and chaos in creating turbulence.

Apply this notion of Complexity Theory to Ijok and we may predict what the Malaysian general election may look like. Will there be utter chaos when in Ijok – a battleground to settle old scores between ancient foes – become patterns of syntagmatism and like Mandlebrot Set turn into prism-like patterns of randomness and chaos will bring about revolutionary changes in the ideological landscape of Malaysian politics?

How will the impact of dissatisfaction in Ijok play in the next general election? What if there is a boycott of the election? What if there is an election but massive lawlessness would force our nation to be under Emergency rule? What will happen to our nation in the eyes of the international community? How will that impact us economically? Will we see another MAGERAN – Majlis Gerakan Negara – this time one sane enough to install leaders who will bring peace and not those who will bring violence through the philosophy of gangsta politics?

In terms of political consciousness, we are already in a coma. We are a vegetable. The closing of the Malaysian mind is complete. In fact, was it ever open – when hegemony and totalitarianism has been a feature of our “politics of compromise” and “cooption and cooperation” and other nice-sounding names we give to “Bolehland”?

But, is there a short-cut way to justice?

I do not know. But butterflies have flapped their wings in this Amazon called Ijok. Some have had theirs clipped. We will not know how the shape of this “fair” general election will be when it comes.

But for now, let us see if Ijok will no longer be an eclipse.

Berakhirnya Keadilan?

Mingguan Malaysia 29 April menyiarkan berita muka depan dengan tajuk besar “Berakhirnya Keadilan?”

Teliti cara tajuk itu ditulis dan bagaimana keadilan ditulis.

Nampaknya Mingguan Malaysia cuba memberikan petunjuk bahawa dengan kemenangan BN, keadilan berakhir di Ijok dan kezaliman akan berleluasa di Ijok di bawah kepemimpinan K(aki) R(asuah) Parthiban.

Program Pos Pilihanraya Ijok

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim bersama-sama pemimpin-pemimpin Barisan Rakyat akan berada di Ijok pada 1 Mei untuk program bersama masyarakat dan petugas pilihanraya.

Ia bermula dengan Hi-Tea di Pekan Ijok, Batang Berjuntai, Solat Maghrib di Bukit Badong, Solat Isya’ di Masjid Jaya Setia, Makan Malam di Markas PAS Batu 8 Ijok dan diakhiri dengan Ceramah Perdana di Markas PAS Batu 8 anjuran PAS Kawasan Kuala Selangor.

I’m sad for Malaysia — Anwar

“I am sad for Malaysia.”

So said former deputy premier and PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim in response to his party’s defeat in the Ijok by-election.

“I have been talking about the fraudulent process all the while but I did not think it was going to be so bad … intimidation and blatant bribery … the whole conduct of the election today,” he said.

Top Keadilan leaders were absent when the results were announced. Anwar said the by-election was ridden with phantom voters and police harassment against the opposition.

“We will launch an official protest on a charge of fraudulent conduct of the election,” he said.

BN menang dengan majoriti 1,850 di Ijok

Anis Nazri Sat | Apr 28, 07 | 07:59:58 PM  [Harakahdaily.net]

IJOK, 28 April – Pilihan raya kecil Dun Ijok menyaksikan kemenangan berpihak kepada calon Barisan Nasional, K. Parthiban dengan majoriti 1,850 undi, mengalahkan calon KeADILan, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Berdasarkan pengumuman Pegawai Pengurus Pilihan Raya Haris Kassim di pusat penjumlahan undi, di Dewan Orang Ramai Batang Berjuntai, kira-kira jam 8.47 malam tadi, Parthiban memperolehi 5,884 undi manakala Khalid, mendapat 4,034 undi. Dengan itu, calon BN menang dengan tambahan majoriti 201 undi, berbanding dengan 1,649 undi dalam pilihan raya umum 2004. Peratusan keluar mengundi yang dicatatkan ialah 81.88 peratus daripada 12,272 pemilih, iaitu kadar tertinggi dalam sejarah pilihan raya kecil yang pernah diadakan di negara ini. Keputusan itu menunjukkan undi yang diperolehi BN dan KeADILan masing-masing bertambah daripada yang diperolehi pada 2004, di mana BN mendapat 5,213 undi manakala KeADILan mendapat 3,564 undi. Ia bermakna kedua-dua calon memperolehi peningkatan undi hampir setara, iaitu BN berjaya menambah undi sebanyak 671 undi, manakala KeADILan menambah sebanyak 470 undi. Dalam pilihan raya umum 2004, calon BN, K Sivalingam menang dengan kelebihan 1,649 undi mengalahkan calon PKR, Abdol Rahman Moharam, dan calon Bebas, Mohamed Shariff Nagoorkani. Keputusan hari ini menunjukkan BN menang di tujuh daerah mengundi. Terdapat sembilan daerah mengundi dalam Dun Ijok. Harakahdaily dimaklumkan, BN menang di daerah mengundi Sungai Darah, Jaya Setia, Bukit Badong, Batang Berjuntai Bestari Utara, Batang Berjuntai Bestari Selatan, Simpang Ijok dan Tuan Mee. KeADILan pula menang di Kampung Ijok dan Pekan Ijok, dengan masing-masing memperolehi undi sebanyak 492 undi, dan 624 undi, berbanding BN yang memperolehi 376 undi (Kampung Ijok) dan 605 undi (Pekan Ijok). Pada pilihan raya 2004 lalu, empat daerah mengundi, yang majoritinya pengundi Melayu, dimenangi KeADILan, iaitu Jaya Setia, Bukit Badong, Kampung Ijok dan Simpang Ijok. Bagaimanapun kali ini ia hanya berjaya mengekalkan kemenangan di Kampung Ijok sahaja. Agak menarik jika diperhatikan KeADILan berjaya menguasai daerah mengundi yang majoriti pengundinya Cina, iaitu Pekan Ijok. Di Bukit Badong, KeADILan memperolehi 826 undi, manakala BN (838 undi) dan di Jaya Setia, KeADILan memperolehi 327 undi, manakala BN (618 undi) pada pilihan raya kecil ini. Pemilih berdaftar di Dun Ijok terdiri daripada 51 peratus Melayu, 28 peratus kaum India dan 21 peratus Cina. Sebanyak 39 orang adalah pengundi pos. Pilihan raya ini diadakan berikutan kematian penyandang, Dato’ K Sivalingam, 59, dari BN pada 4 April lalu di Chennai, India, akibat serangan jantung.

A disgusting campaign by BN — Anwar

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Fri | Apr 27, 07 | 08:35:52 AM

I am disgusted and repulsed by the smear campaign conducted by the Barisan Nasional in the Ijok by-election.In my many years of being in politics, never before have I witnessed such malice and viciousness heaped upon one candidate.I have known Tan Sri Dato’ Khalid Ibrahim for many years. During my time as Finance Minister, he has approached me on many occasions for many issues, but never once had he ever asked for shares or allocation for his own benefit.In 1994, I was instructed by then Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputera (YPB) chairman and Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad to write a letter to allow Tan Sri Khalid to purchase shares of Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd at market price.I was and still am very impressed by Tan Sri Khalid’s honesty, integrity and his concern for the common people, especially the poor, by introducing the Amanah Saham Nasional and Amanah Saham Bumiputera schemes in the country.The false and wicked accusations by deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his coterie to smear the good name of Tan Sri Khalid are desperate attempts to cover up his and the BN government’s blatant abuse of power and public funds.The despicable acts of violence and vicious character assassinations committed by BN have become a matter of grave concern and national security for the nation. I am most concerned about the personal safety of Tan Sri Khalid, considering he has been attacked twice by BN thugs. I am ashamed that this government can even stoop this low and tell bareface lies just to win a few votes. If we allow this to go unchecked, Malaysia can no longer call itself democratic and civilized. I call on all voters of Ijok to vote for a good man who deserves to be your state assemblyman. Advisor, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan).