Heads we win, tails you lose

Opposition-held constituency in Sabah struggles to attract development funds from a government; voters punished for exercising their right to pick their own representative
KOTA KINABALU: The ugliness of Sabah politics is on display in the state constituency of Inanam. Infrastructure development in the scrappy little town in the suburbs of the city has come to a standstill and mutters of irritation can be heard less than a year since the elections.
Will it grow as time passes? The next general election is a long way off and barring an unforeseen event, time can only get tougher from the constituents’ point of view.
It’s been this way ever since the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition lost the mixed-community state seat to the opposition in last year’s general election.
In the neighbouring Karambunai constituency, by contrast, development funds are being shovelled in as fast as those running the show can consume it.
Holding voters to ransom if they do not kowtow to the government of the day, is a time-worn and threadbare method of voter enforcement that continues without so much as anyone questioning why is this happening in this day and age.
“We are all paying our taxes … we are contributing. How can they just hold up or “kasih putus (cut) development here,” asked Jinin, a resident of Inanam who has lived here since the 1950s when the town was just a row of wooden shops with a single-pump gas station in one corner.
“Look at the place now. It’s like there has been no planning since then.”
Jinin is referring to the chaotic development that was allowed to take place that has led to Inanam town losing its old charm after becoming increasingly congested, ugly and dirty with overflowing or clogged drains, leaking sewage pipes, broken pavements and litter, the curse of every Sabah town.
But it’s not just the town areas that are in need of development funds. The people in the kampongs have also been left out since since PBS lost the constituency to the opposition.
To be fair, development was not satisfactory even before when the ruling coalition was in control in the constituency, but the situation has become worse with the opposition PKR assemblyman Dr Roland Chia Ming Shen struggling to cope with even less help from the state government.
He’s concerned that his constituency is being sidelined simply to show the opposition is incapable of doing much and as a punishment for voters who dared to elect an opposition candidate to represent them in the state legislative assembly.
It’s not that Chia’s isn’t qualified to do job, but there’s little he can do if the government is adamant that his constituency does not get government funding for projects.
Since the general elections last year, has drifted into a state of development limbo. It’s too populated and important to be totally left out but neither is it in a position to compete for funds with the neighbouring constituency of Karambunai which is still in the BN fold.
Following its defeat in Inanam, PBS has backed away from the constituency to lick its wounds. It has shut down its division in constituency following a revolt and only its Community Development Officer, Sabin Guntilaban, has some say in development programmes.
“But just being a CDO, nothing much can be done,” said a Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman.
The JKKK is a body that look after problems in their respective villages, reporting directly to the development office.
PBS has no one it can turn to since it sacked former assemblyman Jonny Goh for allegedly supporting the opposition during the election in protest of being dropped as the BN candidate.
On top of this, the government has yet to appoint a People’s Development Leader for Inanam and the other constituencies won by the opposition eventhough the other  BN-held state constituencies had their leaders’ named soon after the general election. Being politically-appointees, these leaders are assistants to assemblymen in their respective constituencies.
“I am the assemblymen but being in the opposition, the government does not allow me to appoint a people development leader or other government posts for the benefit of the people,” Chia told the Borneo Insider.
The PKR assemblyman, who has set up his service centre office at Taipan Inanam Town, said he receives no government allocation and the people understand this and his difficulties.
“I try my best to assist the people with the RM5,000 assemblyman monthly allowance. On other days, I voice out problems to the government and so far the relevant departments have been cooperative,” he said.
Lost in all this is the fact that the state government is generously doling out funds and allocations to its elected representatives from money collected through taxes from everyone, not just BN supporters.
If last year’s election is an indicator, the opposition gained the majority of votes in the country and hence are contributing the most in terms of taxes. - BI

UMNO need Sabah and Sarawak to be Federal Government

by Luke Rintod HERE

KOTA KINABALU: UK-based NGO, Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia (BoPiMaFo) believes the only reason Malaya based parties are desperate to retain Sabah and ‘invade’ Sarawak is so that they can continue to decide which Umno leader would become the Prime Minister.

Daniel Jambun, who leads BoPiMaFo, said: “Umno wanted to go to Sarawak but its dream was shattered not because of Sarawak BN parties’ refusal but because of the people.

“If Umno spreads its wings to Sarawak, it would empower Sabah and Sarawak to decide who would be Umno president and eventually Prime Minister as both combined number of delegates from East Malaysia would have been the biggest to Umno’s annual assembly.

“Obviously Malayan parties come to East Malaysian states not to lose power and control. But of course they did not tell you this was the reason.”

Jambun, who is Sabah State Reform Party (STAR) deputy chairman, has consistently said that Sabah and Sarawak are best left to local parties to represent and be part of the Federal Government, something that Malayan leaders did not like as in the various cases.

Jambun was alluding to the encroachment of Malayan based parties on both sides of the divide. The BN coalition has Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC in Sabah while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition has DAP, PKR and PAS.

Sabah is administered by Umno-led BN in a coalition with local parties PBS, LDP, UPKO and PBRS. Since Umno’s entry, the state has seen a steady decline in its socio-economic status.

Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan has also now muscled into Sabah and is seeking to entrench itself here politically.

Both Malaya based parties, claims Jambun have little interest in ensuring the rights and dignity of Sabahans.

‘Control, exploit, hegemonise’

Throwing punches at Pakatan, Jambun described the coalition as “greedy” for wanting to contest all seats in Borneo.

“History has shown us that (the) majority of Sabahans and Sarawakians have actually refused Malaya political parties.

“They believe the leaders from both sides have always wanted to control, exploit and hegemonise Sabahans and Sarawakians. And because of their (Malayan) uncontrolled greed, they will do anything to deny the people their right and will bulldoze their way in.

“Look at Umno, which many of the now opposition PKR leaders were very much part of. Umno even changed the election boundaries to facilitate their control in Sabah.

“To be frank, wasn’t PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim at that time Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s right-hand man? Do you think he has changed?

“If Anwar is a changed man now, why is it he is still copying Umno’s greed, even looking down, if not trying to dictate to fellow state opposition leaders?” asked Jambun.

Jambun was referring to Pakatan’s insistence on contesting in all 25 parliamentary seats in Sabah and 31 in Sarawak.

In July last year BN defectors Lajim Ukin and Wilfred Bumburing added a ‘local flavour’ to Pakatan. Lajim, a former federal level Umno deputy minister is Beaufort MP, while Bumburing is Tuaran MP and ex-deputy president of Sabah BN partner, Upko.

Both have since set up their own political platforms and pledged allegiance to Anwar. Anwar has since assigned Lajim to secure the Muslim votes and Bumburing to look into the native KadazanDusun Murut votes.

Greedy PKR-Pakatan

This has left local opposition STAR and Sabah Progressive People Party (SAPP) in a ‘quandary’.

Jambun said: “A deeper look at things and the finger would point to the Malaya-based political parties that are truly splitting the votes in Sabah and Sarawak as they are greedy and want to wallop even the smallest number of seats in Sabah and Sarawak.

“When Malaysia Federation was formed in 1963, it was an agreement that our seats, both state and parliamentary seats in our own state should be our safeguard and that those representatives elected are to be Sabah and Sarawak’s genuine voices especially in Parliament.

“But what sort of safeguards can Sabah and Sarawak have if even our small number of seats are being taken by parties from outside East Malaysia? It is obvious that these Sabahans reps would listen to their leaders who are from peninsula. Just look at Umno reps from Sabah.

“We want to push away Umno from Sabah but why must these Malayan and their Sabahan proxies and stooges here insist we replace Umno with yet another Malayan political party?

“Are the 165 parliamentary seats (out of 222) lumped together in the whole of Malaya still not good enough for PKR and PR (Pakatan) to contest that they must contest Sabah’s mere 25 and Sarawak’s 31 parliamentary seats ?”

“Do we really want a change that is real here (Sabah)?

Bumburing and Jeffrey in face-off

By Joseph Bingkasan of Free Malaysia Today

| December 18, 2012

STAR is being accused of splitting the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut (KDM) communities' votes in Sabah and handing BN a measure of confidence that it can prolong its hold.

 

KOTA KINABALU: Two Kadazandusun opposition leaders here are going toe-to-toe over who has the more credible solution to what they claim is the great rip-off of Sabah and its people.

Maverick Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan has taken a hard line on ‘Malayan’ parties and has accused opposition leaders of being turncoats no better than the all-dominating Barisan Nasional ruling coalition they are castigating for rejecting his Borneo agenda that focuses exclusively on the rights of Sabah and Sarawak.

On the other side is Wilfred Bumburing, a MP who has turned independent and is leading Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), a opposition-friendly grouping that sees Jeffrey’s brand of Borneo-centric politics as out of touch with reality.

APS has not taken Jeffrey’s State Reform Party (STAR) all-or-nothing, Sabah for Sabahans and accusations of pandering to ‘Malayan’ parties lightly in its battle to unite voters in the state under one opposition grouping.

Using Jeffrey’s own words against him, the APS publicity machine went to work to show how Sabah has always been ruled by the doctrine of divide and rule used by the Barisan Nasional and that the STAR leader’s Borneo agenda was like minded.

Making the case against Jeffrey, who on Sunday walloped rival Sabah opposition leaders as traitors, was APS information chief Lesaya Lopog Sorudim.

Sorudim told FMT today that Kitingan was only making matters worse by not making common cause with the Malayan-based opposition to oust the Umno-led BN coalition.

He said that by going its own route, STAR is disregarding the fact that it is also splitting the crucial votes of the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut (KDM) communities of Sabah and handing the BN a measure of confidence that it can prolong its hold on power through the coming general election.

He said that contrary to what the STAR leader was saying, Bumburing’s movement was established with the aim of restoring the dignity, sovereignty and independence of Sabah as a state within the Federation of Malaysia.

“So when Bumburing held that the natives, especially the KDM community should reject STAR’s strategy he was basing his opinion on facts,” Sorudim said.
Pakatan manifesto not Malaya Agenda

Last week STAR deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun had lashed out at Bumburing for saying that the natives of Sabah should not pin their hopes on his party, calling it “patently mischievous, misconceived and misleading”.

Jambun added that “it should be condemned in no uncertain terms by all right-thinking Sabahans, deplored and exposed as the mother of all lies by a political has-been who shamelessly continues to be a stooge of the local proxies of the peninsular masters.”

Sorudim pointed out that there was nothing ‘mischievous, misconceived or misleading’ when Bumburing made the statement which he said was reflective of the sentiment of the majority of the natives.

“Who would pin their hopes on an organisation that is bent on splitting the Sabah into five regions and moving the state capital from Kota Kinabalu to Keningau should they come to power,” Sorudim said of a controversial statement made by Jeffrey which the later claimed was taken out of context.

Jeffrey had said that if STAR was voted into power, the state would be divided into several states – West Coast, Sandakan, Tawau, Kudat and Keningau – each headed by a Chief Minister.

Sorudim said APS objective was to help the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim win the coming election by ensuring victory in all KDM majority constituencies.

Pakatan’s manifesto, he said, does not in anyway outline a Malayan Agenda as alleged by STAR, but instead contains a comprehensive development plan specifically designed for Sabah.

“It is therefore on the basis of this struggles that generated interest among the natives of Sabah, and along with this scenario, the non-natives Malaysians of Sabah origin are also coming out in support of this agenda.

“APS’ struggles is about change … change in policy that are no longer applicable to Sabah, changes in the delivery system and changes in the distribution of wealth namely the oil royalty, management of tax and tariff,” Sorudim said.

STAR’s contradictory stand

APS youth leader Denis Gimpah also hit out at Jambun and STAR for not explaining their contradictory stance.

“Who is STAR trying to fool? Where does STAR come from anyway?

“Would the so-called STAR Sabah-chapter explain why the Sarawak-based party is not even contemplating putting up any candidates in their home state in Sarawak?

“Can they categorically deny the story about a meeting between their leader and Tun Daim Zainuddin in Nexus here sometime ago,” Gimpah asked.

Gimpah also raised the matter of Jeffrey’s ‘willingness’ to work with BN in the event it wins the polls in Peninsula Malaysia.

“Jeffrey Kitingan in May said that STAR was willing and would be ready to talk to BN. Does this not show who is actually being used as a BN tool here?

“How would STAR be able to solve the PTI problem without sound working relationship with a new in-coming federal government?

“They owe Sabahans an explanation,” he said.

John Ghani may contest and win Kuala Penyu
as published HERE Free Malaysia Today

The fast-changing political scenario in Sabah has rattled the once outwardly steady Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition government of Musa Aman.

With the dust yet to settle from the exit of MPs Wilfred Bumburing (Tuaran) and Lajim Ukin (Beaufort) from the ruling coalition, Sabah Umno is making overtures to bring back into its fold former rebels who have switched sides.

Among them is former Kuala Penyu independent state assembly representative John Ghani.

It was bad news for Sabah’s now dominant political party when the popular Kadazandusun politician was forced to quit Umno after he contested as an independent against a BN candidate in the 2004 election and won convincingly.

Ghani showed that voters in Kuala Penyu, which together with Klias is part of the Beaufort parliamentary constituency, were not automatic Umno or BN supporters as had been assumed.

The defeated BN candidate, senior Upko leader Wences Angang, was no lightweight candidate himself. He was a deputy chief minister, and his defeat shamed Musa, Umno and the coalition who then had Lajim, one of the most influential politicians in the district, on their side.

As it now pans out, Ghani, a former senator, had shown himself to be a counter-balance to Lajim’s well-known influence in the district.

Since Lajim’s squabble with Musa and his divide-and-rule state policies, the expulsion of the former Kuala Penyu assemblyman has come back to haunt the party.

Both Ghani and Lajim have thrown their lot in with Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat coalition with the former in PKR and the Beaufort MP now leading Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS), an opposition friendly political platform.

That’s bad news for Chief Minister Musa who has been busy trying to outflank potential challengers from within his party.

Ghani’s ‘powerful’ in Kuala Penyu
Early indications are that the internal manoeuvring within Umno, while strengthening Musa’s hold on power, has further weakened the party’s tenuous hold on various constituencies in Sabah and Kuala Penyu is among them.

Incumbent assemblyman John Teo of the United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) is already facing a revolt from within his own party with Anggang keen to be nominated to defend the seat.

Ghani, who was narrowly defeated in the 2008 election after again standing as an independent is now with PKR and can count on the active support of Lajim and the tacit support of Angang if the latter is not selected to defend the seat by the BN hierarchy.

As things stand, BN’s chances of retaining the seat are slim and Musa knows this. Umno insiders say the party leader is now making quiet overtures to lure Ghani back into Umno.

The ruling coalition is mindful of the shock result in 2004 when Ghani polled 5,157 votes to Angang’s 3,139 votes. Guandee Kohoi of Setia and independent Saman Ahmad lost their election deposit when they only managed to get 308 and 633 votes, respectively.

Ghani, a Kadazandusun Christian, lost the seat in the 2008 election when he polled 4,159 votes, just 257 votes less than the 4,419 votes garnered by Upko’s Teo while Guandee who contested on a PKR ticket polled 589 votes in the three-corner contest.

Guandee has since left PKR and is now secretary-general of the State Reform Party (STAR), an opposition party headed by maverick Sabah politician Jeffrey Kitingan.

With Angang doing little to hide his friendly ties with Lajim as the BN leadership sorts out its candidates, Lajim has been busy touring his constituency and other areas to drum up support for Pakatan with Ghani.

Others within Upko lobbying for the seat are Linda Antoni, Munih Epin and Lokman Sunggim but a voter in Kuala Penyu said whoever the BN picked would face a difficult fight against Ghani if he was the opposition candidate.

Ex-Sabah BN MPs in Pakatan panel

By Joseph Bingkasan of Free Malaysia Today

| October 31, 2012

          

According to a former Upko senator, current party leaders were 'trapped' by PM Najib Tun Razak's announcement of an RCI which is unlikely to convene before the polls.

 

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah MPs Wilfred Bumburing and Lajim Ukin – the respective leaders of new opposition groupings Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) and Pakatan Pertubuhan Angkatan Sabah (PPS) – are now members of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) national council.

APS is led by Tuaran MP and former-deputy president of United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Bumburing while PPS is headed by Beaufort MP Lajim who is a former Umno supreme council member.

Both the MPs had on July 29 quit all posts that came with their positions as BN coalition members and pledged support to former prime deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim who now leads Pakatan.

However, both Bumburing and Lajim have yet to join any of the opposition coalition component parties.

Bumburing’s former boss in Upko, Bernard Dompok, was quick to paint the two former senior BN leaders ‘partyless’ status as indecisive, saying that they displayed the lack of confidence in Pakatan’s political struggle.

Dompok, the Plantations Industries and Commodities Minister, who is fighting his own battle to remain relevant in the ruling coalition, also questioned the need for Bumburing and Lajim to establish APS and PPS as their political platforms.

Dompok likened the Anwar-led opposition “as a duck in the water where on the surface the bird looked calm but underwater it was paddling hard.”

However, APS deputy president Maijol Mahap, an Upko vice-president until he resigned in August this year to team up with Bumburing, has hit back at Dompok.

“It is not for anyone to say whether or not Bumburing has any confidence in any of the political parties that make up Pakatan Rakyat. (Joining a political party) is not his priority,” said the former senator who lost his position after he quit the BN.

Upko has already given the senator post to its deputy secretary-general Lucas Umbol whose nomination was unanimously passed by the Sabah Legislative Assembly last week.

‘Pakatan made up of equal partners’

Mahap disclosed that after going through a series of discussions with several Pakatan party leaders including Anwar, it was agreed that Bumburing and Lajim through APS and PPS, assist the opposition coalition in their quest to topple the BN government and wrest control of Putrajaya.

“In relation to this understanding, leaders from APS and PPS have been appointed as members of Pakatan National Council,” he said.

“Unlike BN where Umno is the dominant force and all the other parties have to follow the dictates of Umno, Pakata) is made of equal partners where no single party dominates the other members of the coalition,” he said.

The former senator also backed Bumburing’s stunning revelation that Upko leaders had discussed pulling the party out of the BN and joining Pakatan.

“In fact before July 29, there were suggestion coming from several Upko leaders wanting Bumburing and his group to postpone their intended date to quit BN-Upko.”

According to Mahap, the leaders eventually agreed to let Bumburing go first while Upko leaders sort out some technicalities.

“However all these notions suddenly changed when Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak promised to announce the formation of RCI,” he added.

Mahap pointed out that currently Upko leaders are in a quandry and find themselves “trapped” by the announcement as until today the members of the RCI have yet to sit while “the terms of reference unveiled is nothing but a tool to try to appease the people”.

Upko leaders, he said, are aware that Sabah’s broken immigration system has posed a huge problem for the state and the country with no solution in sight and questions are now being asked about how tough or tender the federal administration will be towards the million or so immigrants already in the state.

“What will Upko do or say should the RCI fail to complete its reports during the stipulated time given to it and/or in the midst of it Najib dissolves Parliament and calls for elections?

“Perhaps the RCI might not even be able to sit for their first meeting before the general election is called,” he said, adding that Upko leaders would find it tough to go down and convince locals to defend the failure of the Umno-BN government in solving the problem.

‘We’re united,’ says KDM lawyer

By Joseph Bingkasan in Free Malaysia Today

| October 22, 2012

There is no disunity among the KadazanDusuns but what exists are Barisan Nasional leaders who want to divide and rule.

KOTA KINABALU: Darell Leiking, a young Kadazandusun lawyer from Penampang, believes his community can be a force to be reckoned with in the coming general elections and an indication of this is coming from Barisan Nasional leaders who are worried the tide has turned against them ahead of the 13th general election.
“We are not disunited racially or religiously. We are united. Tagging the community as disunited because they do not see eye to eye in political ideology is a false notion,” said the man who wants to take his community in a new political direction.
The PKR national deputy secretary-general and supreme council member is among leaders in Sabah heading the Pakatan Rakyat coalition challenge against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in Penampang in the impending general election.
Penampang is considered part of the heartland of the Kadazandusuns and wresting the seat from the BN would be a body blow for the ruling coalition.
Addressing concerns that his community is split into too many factions, he said the blame can be placed at the door of a few political leaders who were once united under a common political banner but went their separate ways to stay in power.
In a chance meeting at a coffee shop last week, the 41-year-old UK-trained lawyer confided that his community is in fact as united as it was in the past about championing Sabah’s rights as a partner in the formation of Malaysia and not just one of the 13 states in the federation as it is now.
Touted as a possible PKR candidate for the Penampang MP seat, he said he is not concerned about who is finally selected by the coalition.
“PKR is hopeful to represent Pakatan Rakyat for Penampang. However, my personal position is that my division and I will support any candidate from any of our (Pakatan) partners should PKR not be given this seat,” he said .
Whoever is chosen will up against a formidable foe in the form of current Penampang MP is Federal Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Bernard Dompok, who is the president of the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko).

Political leaders to blame
Leiking does not see this as a big hurdle even though Pakatan is tapping the same Kadazandusuns who voted in favour of the BN in the last election.
His argument is that most of the ruling coalition and their party members today were once united under a single political banner (Parti Bersatu Sabah) to fight for Sabah’s rights.
He said though PBS leader Joseph Pairin Kitingan and his former colleagues in the party like Joseph Kurup and Dompok are now presidents of different political parties and have split the Kadazandusun vote, they cannot say the community is solidly behind them.
He accused the entrenched crop of political leaders as being out of touch with the community.
Leiking said Kadazandusun leaders must take full responsibility for the community’s political displacement and weaker position as they had ignored the spirit of 1985 that united the people of Sabah purely to prolong their political life.
“Their two-dozen or so years as elected representatives is just a wee bit too long for us. It’s a political fact,” he said of the claimed burgeoning support for the opposition.
“Imagine 27 years of political decisions being made for us and little to show how we’ve benefitted.
“Some of these politicians are now blaming us for being divided but these same leaders have even had the audacity to redefine the Kadazandusuns by religion.
“We are Kadazans and Dusuns regardless of our beliefs and this we should all defend so that we shall never be displaced. We must embrace that our race is unique with many faiths and with a special place as natives of Sabah.
“No religion should ever divide our race,” he said.
Sabahans now bolder
The problem, he said, was the mutual respect that was always present in Sabah was slowly being eroded by the failure of politicians who were either ignorant or afraid to challenge one-sided policies that had taken a toll on the social makeup of the state.
“We should take responsibility to seek help and find solutions to those issues. It is reciprocal and I believe when we do this, the mutual respect will be reasserted,” he said.
Leiking also noted that Sabahans were also no longer afraid to shout out their disappointment over the failure to fulfil promises pledged during the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
He said, people had forgotten that while Sabahans have changed the state government several times, the federal government had remained the same and this had handicapped them since the formation of Malaysia.
“The prime minister may have changed but the regime remains the same. Our Sabah government may have changed on four occasions but the political leaders and players remain the same,” he noted.
Pakatan, he said, has given voters an opportunity for change at the very top.
“This is why it is obvious and we must take part … we cannot miss this opportunity in the general elections.
“What we need now is to have that same desire for change but the only difference is, there is now a national party that we can converge this force of change so that we will honour that desire that we have been deprived off for so long.”
Leiking disagreed with the idea that only a ‘local based party’ or ‘parti tempatan’ was the best choice to lead Sabah.
“Myself and many others from Sabah are members of PKR or DAP or PAS (Pakatan’s component parties). It would be insulting to say that being in a national-based party, one would be any less a Sabahan. I am in PKR and I am a Sabahan.
“As a national leader in the party, I also make decisions on the party matters concerning a member or division in Johor, Malacca, Selangor and other states. That is progress in this partnership.”

An Open Letter To PKR, STAR and SAPP

This letter was published HERE

ANY TIME Malaysians will be called to cast our votes, in GE13. Our cousins in West Malaysia are more fortunate than us in Sabah, given that they have an easier choice to make, choose Pakatan Rakyaat or Barisan Nasional.

In Sabah, we are not impressed by the collective behaviour of the opposition parties. In fact, we are profoundly uncharmed for having a fragmented opposition parties being forced upon us, for reasons best known to yourselves.

This, however does not stop the Rakyat from making conjectures on your intentions. Your 'fight back' war cry and shallow symbolism, willing us to change, mean very little to us, the voters, if you fail to project a united opposition having the same set of intentions and politics.

What we have seen so far is the unattractive sides of all of you. Some of us find this offensive, others find this disturbing. If your aim is to win the coming election by wearing a mask, seeing voters in black and white, you need now to see us in different shades of grey because our diverse communities and cultures are different, far more complex than what you see us in a fleeting few hours or days of ceramahs.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, you can either view STAR/SAPP as part of the problems, or view them as part of the solutions. On a global scale, we are living in interesting time. For the first time in almost 200 years, the economic power has shifted from the west to the east.

Most economic analysts agree that by 2020 China could be the largest economic power. We are also living in an environment, where the global dynamics, are determined by technologies, that are both frightening and exhilarating at the same time. Technologies that do not respect boundaries and countries. Considering your International and National Status, these are what you should train your sight on.

You may have heard of an amazing Zimbabwean Lady Madam Sakai Holland. She is currently holding the post of Co-Minister of Healing and Reconciliation under the Mugabe's Government.

In 2007, she was almost beaten to death by Robert Mugabe's police. Her boss Morgan Tsvangirai, the current Prime Minister survived three assassination attempts on his life and lost his wife in a car 'accident'.

Yet today, they are serving under the Presidency of Robert Mugabe in the name of UNITY. Whatever differences each of you may have, it cannot be more serious than that experienced by Madam Sakai and PM Tsvangirai.

I sincerely appeal to you all, on behalf of Sabahans, especially to you DSAI, as the leader of the biggest grouping of parties, and as the alternate Prime Minister of Malaysia, to focus on National and International Matters.

Concentrate on what you are good at and leave Sabah politics to Sabahans. Do not get weigh down by domestic matters and work with STAR/SAPP to challenge BN one on one. You proudly proclaim that Sabah will be given Autonomy if PR wins, let us see you practise this with your domestic politics and not apply 18.4 of PKR's constitution to us (18.4 unquoted as intended).

Be magnanimous in your actions and give us a chance to help you to be the seventh Prime Minister of this amazing Nation of ours, our Malaysia. Instead of cursing the dark, we, the voters, beg you please light a candle.

 

Hoping that this appeal will meet with kind and favourable considerations. Written on behalf of ANAK SABAH, who wish for change.

Best Regards,

LAWRENCE LEONG

 

My Say:

 

As long as the opposition parties in Sabah are opposing each others, Barisan Nasional will emerge the winner in the 13th general election. Just one case in the 2008 election - Inanam state seat: BN-PBS 5, 979 votes, PKR 4, 293 votes and DAP2,864 votes. This showed that should it was a straight fight BN would had lost.

Sabah belongs to Sabahans

As published in http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com

on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:21

It will be a fatal mistake if opposition politicians from the peninsula ride roughshod over the sensitivities of the people of Sabah.

It is well known that the land below the wind (now the land of illegals) has long been seething with anger at the federal masters.

Rich in natural resources, bigger than the peninsula, they should be enjoying the fruits of their natural wealth and holding the future in their hands. Instead, fate was unkind to them and today
they live under the yoke of "alien" rule.

For a brief spell, they had power but because of the machination of a devious dominant peninsular party, they lost their high seat. Though their politically emasculated Huguan Siou (paramount leader) now sits at the same table with the hated "conquerors", life there does
not seem to change for the better.

In PKR the people have found another promising platform to advance their cause. The party is open to all races and in Sabah it has made quite an impact. Its standard-bearer is a fighter for justice and fair play though his future is nebulous.

By forging a link with one of the favourite sons of Sabah, the way ahead looks clear and bright. The partnership seems solid and PKR appears to have hit off well with the crowd. But to their dismay, PKR is behaving more like its peninsular foe. It wanted to impose its own brand of leadership on its partners.

In short, it wanted peninsular politicians to run the show in Sabah. It met with stiff opposition.

Though the error was rectified with Sabah's favourite son in control of his State, the ceasefire did not last long. It was bound to happen: some disgruntled members got together to form a breakway party and fight their own battle.

They nearly got away with it if not for the peace deal reached with PKR. But dirty politics intervened. Imperiously, PKR came down hard on the rebels with the recommendation that they be suspended. It acted tough and rough.

The damage wasdone and another blunder committed. PKR had acted in a manner that reminds its Sabah brothers of the treacherous peninsular politics.

Even if the recommended suspension is not acted upon, the undercurrent of distrust will persist. The dissidents have made their point and Sabahans, inside and outside the political arena, have taken note of the haughty yet fragile opposition party from the peninsula.

If the rebels are shown the door in a display of extreme petulance, it would not sound the death knell for Sabahans.

It would instead strengthen their resolve. If the PKR supremo in a magnanimous gesture brings them back to the fold, it would do nothing to calm the troubled waters. Whichever way the story is played out, the stark reality is that Sabahans, irrespective of their political leanings, simply do not want peninsular leaders talking down to them.

PKR must know that it cannot dictate terms to its Sabah partners. Dissidents, present and future, will rise up to challenge the party of justice. They are not acting alone. Behind them are the people, now living in misery, who are keen to support any "parti that cinta Sabah".

They are raring to toss outsiders, current and impending, into the sea. PKR must not misread the political undercurrents in Sabah, or worse still, underestimate the intelligence of the people. Political awareness there is intense.

Hit a Sabahan politician and you take on an army behind him.

Sabah does not need to hold PKR hands to walk down the corridors of power when the current puppets are thrown out of office. The destiny of the state lies in its own hand. Peninsular style of politics is not its cup of tea. Sabah is not a wild cowboy country that must be tamed by the "western" gunslingers.

There are sensible, intelligent, upright local-born leaders who can lead the state to
fairer climes, calmer seas, clearer future.

Let Sabah be Sabah.

Kalakau - BN loss, PKR gains

KOTA KINABALU: Popular Sabah Dusun leader Datuk Kalakau Untol will be unveiled in the
coming days as the latest Barisan Nasional heavyweight to join PKR, bringing with him vast experience and the Dusun support for the party.

Kalakau, a former deputy labour minister in the BN-held state government, had resigned
from the ruling coalition and from all his posts in government-related agencies on Feb 18.

Immediately after his resignation, he had said that he would be focusing on supporting the policies of PKR but did not reveal any immediate plans to join any of the Pakatan parties.

"However, he has decided that he wants to join PKR. He will be officially unveiled as a new PKR man next week in Kuala Lumpur," a party insider told FMT.

"Kalakau's decision to join PKR is also due to his belief in PKR vice-president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan as someone who can help change the situation in Sabah," added the insider who requested anonymity as the news of the new arrival has not been officially released yet.

Kalakau had submitted his membership form to party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in gathjering in his village in Tuaran last Sunday.

PKR leaders believe that Kalakau, 55, is a good catch for the party, given the latter's strong standing among the Dusun people. He is currently the president of United Sabah Dusun Association.

"While PKR is hit by the resignations of three elected representatives in the peninsula, the timing of Kalakau's entry into the party in Sabah, which is long considered BN-safe deposit state, is perfect," added the party insider.

The Dusun swing

Until his resignation from BN, Kalakau was the chairman of Superpanel (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority, and a member of the Sabah Economic Development Corporation board of directors.

He had served as deputy labour minister from 1986 to 1990 and was United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Youth chief for 12 years from 1985.

Upon his resignation, former senator Kalakau claimed that state and federal leaders had appeared uncommitted in defending the state's rights.

Kalakau is expected to work closely with Jeffrey in consolidating the Kadazandusun support, especially among the Dusun voters, in the state for PKR. The Dusun voters are in a position to swing the votes in many seats in the state.

"The Dusuns are an important group of people who have long been marginalised by the BN. With Kalakau in PKR, they will have a strong voice in the party to represent their interests," added the party insider.

Kalakau joins a long line of ex-BN leaders to have joined PKR, among whom include Jeffrey, former Umno leader and cabinet member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and former MCA deputy president Datuk Chua Jui Ming.

And Mr Kalakau to join PKR

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is the choice of ex-Federal Labour Deputy Minister and Barisan Barisan Nasional ex-member of Parliament for Tuaran Datuk Kalakau Untol.

The former BN-UPKO senator and ex-Youth leader will hands over his application form to PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a meet-the-people gathering at his (Kalakau's) house in Tuaran, about 50km from Kota Kinabalu on Sunday (Feb 28, 2010).

Following Kalakau joining the opposition party are 2,000 of his supporters, majority of them members of BN component parties. Kalakau is United Sabah Dusun Association (USDA) president.

Anwar says.....

Dear Supporters,

On Sunday January 10th I attended a gathering of Church leaders in Petaling Jaya to express our solidarity with the Christian community where I read the following statement:



We are outraged by the tragic attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of the bombing of churches in Malaysia. Today’s attack on the oldest standing church in Malaysia, the All Saints Church in Taiping, is an attack on our nation’s heritage.
As a nation we struggle to uphold the spirit of unity that our founding fathers envisioned at independence. We must hold fast to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion and the right of religious groups to manage their own affairs. In such times the spirit of engagement and dialogue must transcend those voices that would seek to sow discord and enmity across our land.
The people of Malaysia must unite against those who exploit race and religion to incite hatred for political gain. We must renew our commitment to religious understanding and religious freedom.
This is a time that tests the resolve of all religions for peace and mutual respect. We must remember that the God who we worship is in fact the same God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
With respect to the use of the word Allah, for example, it cannot be disputed that Arabic speaking Muslims, Christians and Jews have collectively prayed to God as Allah throughout the last fourteen centuries. While sensitivities over its usage have arisen in Malaysia, the way to resolve these conflicts is not by burning churches and staging incendiary protests but by reasoned engagement and interreligious dialogue.
Muslims must recall the memory of our own tradition’s remarkable commitment to understanding and coexistence with the People of the Book. Islam clearly grants respect to Christians and Jews. In the Quran’s second chapter, God says:
Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God (Aal-Imran, 3:64)
And in the 29th Chapter He says:
And dispute not with the People of the Book but say “We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and that which came down to you…our God [Allah] and your God [Allah] is One, and it is to Him we bow (al-Ankabut, 29:46)
Jesus is himself revered as one of the greatest prophets whose noble example should be followed. The Caliph Umar, who visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 638 AD, was careful to ensure that the Muslims respect the sanctity of Christian places of worship. What then of our own Police’s hesitation to offer an assurance of safety and security for Malaysian churches?
Much of the blame for the recent attacks can be placed at the doorstep of the UMNO-led BN ruling party. Its incessant racist propaganda over the Allah issue and the inflammatory rhetoric issued by government controlled mainstream media especially, Utusan Malaysia, are reprehensible. Such wanton acts of provocation are indeed criminal and demonstrate the duplicity of the 1Malaysia campaign.
I am encouraged by the swift condemnation of the attacks issued by Muslim organizations and leaders. I likewise applaud our Christian leaders for their strong statements calling for calm and forgiveness and resisting revenge and retaliation.
The need for interfaith dialogue in Malaysia is an idea whose time is long overdue. We must now advance the spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood which is inherent in our religions and enshrined in our Constitution. Pakatan Rakyat will collectively take steps to ensure that the necessary dialogue and discussion take place throughout the country. Our fellow Christians must feel safe and secure in this country knowing that their freedom to worship is protected.


ANWAR IBRAHIM
Opposition Leader

Court battle looms over coal plant

As reported HERE on Sun, Dec 6, 2009

KOTA KINABALU: It’s supposed to be a clean coal power plant for oil-rich Sabah. However, even before it can get off the ground, more dirt is sticking to it than was envisaged.

A looming court battle threatens to spill even more dirt over federal-state administrative matters that transpired 30 years ago with Kuala Lumpur regarding the land where it will be sited.

The latest salvo fired against the project has come from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat supreme council member Haji Ansari Abdullah (picture) who hopes to regain the land grabbed by Federal Land Development Authority and give it back to poor Sabahans.

Ansari claims the land where the plant is to be sited was originally meant for the poor, but was turned into a commercial plantation by Felda.

“Some 200,000 hectres of state land in Lahad Datu was given to the Felda under an agreement signed on Dec 4, 1979,” said Ansari, brandishing the agreement. “It’s all here.”

According to the agreement the land in Tunku, Lahad was granted for Felda to develop a settlement scheme for some 13,000 poor Sabah families to help wrench them out of poverty.

“But after 30 years, Felda turned it into a commercial plantation. It is now known as Bandar Sahabat. To make matters worse, the government now want to build a coal-fired power plant (there),” Ansari said.

He warned that PKR was prepared to take the matter to the courts to stop the government from building the plant.

PKR Sabah legal bureau chaired by senior Datuk Chau Chin Tang will be holding a meeting here next week to discuss the matter, he added.

Ansari explained that under the agreement signed by the then Chief Minister Datuk Harris Salleh, the State Government indicated that the land was to be used to help the poor as a way to pull them out from abject of poverty.

“But what has happened now is against the letter and spirit of the agreement. As a result (of this) the people for whom it was intended for to be taken as settlers remain poor,” he said.

Ansari, who is also a senior practicing lawyer in Sabah, said legal action is being planned against the Sabah Electricity Board Sdn Bhd and Felda. PKR Sabah will be identifying individuals to file the court action.

PKR Sabah’s move comes as a boost to the non-governmental organisations’ effort to stop the building of the plant.

Several organisations have banned together to pressure the government to scrap the project due to its environmental impact and to keep in sync with global efforts to curb carbon emissions.

Among those opposing the building of the multi-million ringgit plant are the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa) and Green Surf, who among others claimed that the terms of reference of the Detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the plant was filled with pre-determined and conclusive statements without scientific backing or facts and figures.

They also claimed that it is substandard and totally unacceptable as it ignores the long-term impact of the coal plant’s emission into the pristine Darval Bay.

The plan has also drawn controversy over the way it was presented. Critics say that it is based on climate conditions in the Tawau district, where it was initially sited. The new site for the proposed RM1.2 billion power plant is in Tungku, some 200 kilometres away.

Darval Bay falls within the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) which Malaysia recently pledged to conserve.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak attended the CTI summit in May and pledged US1million for its protection.

Ansari said that the court action would be PKR Sabah contribution to the effort to stop Sabah turning from `green to black’ because of the coal-fired power plant.

Bandar Sahabat, he claimed is now like a State within a state, guarded by its own policemen.

“Should the plant be built, it will destroy Sabah’s image as a green and beautiful state which is known worldwide,” he said. - http://freemalaysiatoday.com

AnD finally Dr Jeffrey quits PKR...More to follow suit

Dr Jeffrey quits as PKR V-P, may return to PBS
2009/10/28
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has resigned as a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), and has not ruled out the possibility of rejoining Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by his elder brother Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
"At the moment, I will leave my options open. I will decide when the right time comes," he told Bernama here. Dr Jeffrey was asked to comment on whether he would consider rejoining PBS, a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN). He said he would consult other PKR divisional chiefs, his supporters and grassroots leaders before making a final decision on the matter. "I'm in no rush to make decision or to decide our next course of action," he said. Dr Jeffrey had also resigned as a member of the party's supreme council and the political bureau.Asked whether Dr Jeffrey was ready to team up with former Sabah PKR deputy chairman Christina Liew, who had also resigned as a supreme council member, to pursue their political careers, he said: "Yes, we will work together". Dr Jeffrey's resignation is seen as having dealt a major blow to PKR's attempt to strengthen itself in Sabah.
Dr Jeffrey, who is expected to send the resignation letter to the party headquarters by today, will remain as an ordinary member of the party, according to his former aide Kanul Gindol. It is believed that many of the division chiefs, including Dr Jeffrey himself, were disappointed with the decision of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appoint Ahmad Thamrin Jaini as the party's new chief in Sabah. Sabahan Ahmad Thamrin was named as the new state PKR chief last weekend after a group of division chiefs expressed no-confidence in PKR vice-president Azmin Ali leading the state PKR. The resignation of Liew as a supreme council members is also seen as a setback for PKR. Liew, who is Kota Kinabalu division chief, announced her resignation as a supreme council member today, following in the footsteps of Dr Jeffrey. Liew said, however, that she would remain as a party member and retain the post of Kota Kinabalu division chief. "I will be submitting my resignation letter to the party president today," she told Bernama. Liew said she had always believed that the party was fair and transparent, until the appointment of Datuk Kong Hong Ming as PKR Sabah deputy chairman and Ahmad Thamrin as the party's new chief in Sabah. "My mum (mother) had to take the public humiliation of me being replaced (as deputy chairman) for unknown reasons. I worked so hard for the last nine years to promote Sabah PKR. "Since the party has disregarded my contribution, I will bow out with dignity now," she said.
PBS secretary-general Datuk Radin Malleh said the party did not want to speculate on Dr Jeffrey rejoining it.
"We will cross the bridge when the time comes. Right now, we don't want to speculate on anything," he said when met after a meeting of the party's organising committee. Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin, who is a Sabah deputy chief minister, said Dr Jeffrey was welcome to join the party."We welcome anybody who wants to join the BN. Of course, we will welcome him back to BN's side ... (because) he is not alone, he got supporters as well," he told reporters when asked if Umno would be willing to accept Dr Jeffrey should he decide to join the party.

USDA Malaysia Day Count Down at Tuaran

In conjunction with Malaysia Day on Sept 16, the United Sabah Dusun Assoication (USDA) is hosting a Malaysia Day Count Down ceremony at Padang Selupuh, Tuaran beginning 8pm on Sept 15, 2009.

USDA president Datuk Kalakau Untol is inviting Sabahans who envisage - Changes for Politics - System of Government - to attend the function.

Speakers: -

1. Parti Keadilan Rakyat national Vice-President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan will speaks on the 20 Points, the foundation on which the people of Sabah stand in agreeing to be partner together with Sarawak, Singapore and Federation of Malaya to form a new nation, Malaysia, on Sept 16, 1963.

2. Sabah veteran politician Datuk Haji Karim Ghani will talk on System of Government.

3. Sabah senior lawyer Haji Ansari Abdullah is to speak on Judiciary Abuses.

4. Lawmaker (MP Tuaran) Datuk Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing will speak on Future Challenges for the People of Sabah.

5. Kalakau, a former lawmaker and ex-Federal Deputy Minister, will talk on Patriotism.

This is the first time that an event of this nature is being organised by USDA in conjunction with the day in which the people of Sabah celebrates the day on which the Federation of Malaysia was born46 years ago.

Malaysia celebrates Merdeka on Aug 31 which will be a Public Holiday nationwide. Sabah will observes Sept 16 as Public Holiday, also to celebrate the official birthday of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Happy Malaysia Day. Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!!!

PBS: Dr Jeffrey's group sidelined

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) vice-president Herbert Timbon Lagadan said the State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) line-up announced by the party's Sabah chief Azmin Ali clearly indicated that former deputy liaision chief Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan's fiction had been sidelined.

He said most of the newly appointed leaders were from former head's Haji Ansari Abdullah group.

Timbon, who is Kadamaian assemblyman and Community Development and Consumer Affairs Assistant Minister, claimed that Jeffrey's trusted aide who was in charge of the Kadazan Dusun Murut affairs Danial John Jambun was dropped from the party State line-up.

"I am renewing my invitation to Dr Jeffery's and group to re-join Barisan Nasional," he said.

Sabah PKR leaders Dr Jeffrey, Ansari and Liew replaced

KOTA KINABALU: Former Tawau Municipal Council president Datuk Hamzah Amir as well as former Kuala Penyu assemblymen Datuk John Ghani and Datuk Kong Hong Ming have been appointed as the three deputy chairmen of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in Sabah following the party’s latest reshuffle of office bearers.

Mohamed Azmin Ali, the Liaison Chairman of Sabah PKR announced the new line-up during his speech at a meet-the-people session in Mile 3, Sandakan on Saturday.

He clarify that leaders like Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Ansari Abdullah and Christina Liew had not been dropped from the State Liaison Committee but were given more prominent roles to play as the joint heads of the Political Bureau.

Dr Jeffrey is still the Vice President of the party and he has been given a more prominent role to focus on the land issues affecting the people of Sabah. He will be liaising with our Deputy President, Dr Syed Husin Ali who is in charge of land issues at the national level..

Christina has also been retained as the Public Complaint Bureau Chief while Ahmad Thamrin Hj Jaini retained as Secretary.

Three persons, Abdul Razak Jamil, Jeffrey Yap and Adris Taripin were appointed as deputies to Thamrin.

Jonathan Yasin was appointed as the new Information Chief, while dentist Dr Roland Chia as Treasurer.

Two seasoned politicians, former Tuaran MP Yunuf Maringking and Awang Ahmad Sha Datuk Hj Awang Sahari were appointed as Advisers.

The most interesting appointment was probably that of blogger, Ronnie Klassen as Communication Director.

Describing the new line-up as a “winning team” for PKR Sabah, Azmin reiterated that the newly formed State Liaison Committee would from now on conducting their meetings more regularly to formulate policies and strategies to better deal with issues affecting the people in the state.

When delivering his speech in Sandakan, the MP for Gombak mooted the idea to get some Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Members of Parliament (MP) to adopt certain constituencies in Sabah that currently have no representation from PR.

He promised to raise the matter soon with the MPs and pledged to visit Sabah at least once a month with his next trip scheduled for Tawau.

Pakatan Alliance is just not working out

Reading the New Straits Times today's edition (July 3rd, 2009), I came across an interesting article by my former workmate ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR which I like to share with Aki Momogun's visitors.

With the rising political discontent in its fold, writes ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR, Pakatan Rakyat may find itself in for a rude shock sooner than its leaders may realise

IT was way off target. Barely 4,000 people were at the Kelana Jaya MPPJ stadium for the Pakatan Rakyat "unity rally" on Tuesday night, when it was supposed to have been a "gathering of 100,000" to project a united alliance.
The poor turnout was a stark contrast to the opposition coalition's last mass gathering at the same venue, on the eve of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's much publicised (and botched) Sept 16 "takeover" of the Federal Government last year.

Has the opposition coalition lost its lustre? Or has political fatigue set in because there's just too much politicking and squabbling among Pakatan components? It might seem so.

Certainly, many who voted for opposition candidates in the last general election are now wondering if they made the right decision, what with the inter-party and intra-party bickering over national and state issues and the administration of states under Pakatan rule.

To their dismay, the voters have found that they had chosen candidates of questionable backgrounds and track records, out of anger at the perceived arrogance and abuses of Barisan Nasional.
The March 2008 general election may have changed Malaysia's political landscape with massive defeats of BN candidates, but many Malay-sians have begun to realise that their lives have not improved much under Pakatan rule.

Given the economic slowdown, compounded by their lack of experience, the Pakatan state governments are struggling to meet voters' expectations while maintaining unity within their alliance, a problem that is growing in Penang, Kedah and Selangor.

A communication breakdown between DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was displayed over the construction of the second Penang bridge: Anwar objected to the bridge being proposed for the south of Penang, claiming that there were less expensive options, but Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he was fine with the proposal and was unaware of the objection.

Kedah DAP's announcement that it was withdrawing its support for the Pas-led state government is another indication of the deteriorating Pakatan alliance.

Kedah DAP chief Thomas Su said the move was due to the state government's failure to give "equal treatment to all Kedahans" -- the two major sticking points being the demolition of an illegal pig abattoir at Kampung Berjaya and the imposition of a 50 per cent Bumiputera housing quota in the state.

Although Lim said the decision was not final until and unless it is endorsed by the DAP central executive committee, the fact remains that there is little trust between DAP and Pas in Kedah.

There are also issues Pakatan partners are unhappy about in Selangor, such as the sale of liquor.

As Pakatan is still licking its wounds from the damage caused by the now aborted plan by Pas to hold unity talks with arch-rival Umno, the feeble attendance at the rally spoke volumes. The organisers blame the low turnout on short notice, but some opposition leaders did not stop short of calling the event a failure.

Could this be a reminder that Malaysian voters, now more informed on the goings-on in Pakatan Rakyat, are not as politically gullible as they were a year or more ago? The rally was seen as an attempt to shore up support for the opposition ahead of the Manik Urai by-election scheduled for July 14 and Anwar's sodomy trial, which could see him jailed for 20 years.

Some say it was to keep the momentum going on the constitutional impasse in Perak.

"There is no question of the Pakatan Rakyat surviving," Anwar, confident as always, told wire service AFP after the rally. "It will continue to defend the rights of the people and challenge the government, gaining strength from any conviction made against me.

"In fact, I think a conviction against me will enrage a lot of people."

Leaders who took the rostrum strenuously denied there were major cracks in Pakatan following Pas' flirting with Umno. But instead of pacifying and convincing supporters, they went on to bash BN, Umno, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia.

The crowd was expecting more, such as leaders offering alternative solutions to political challenges and social and economic woes, as expected of a government-in-waiting.

It could have been a ploy to divert attention from Pakatan's shortcomings and buy time to build better understanding and stronger bonds among the component parties.

This could backfire, however, as it would be tantamount to challenging the political maturity of Malaysians.

Pakatan may be a marriage of convenience, but so are all coalitions to greater or lesser degrees. Its birth was encouraged after its three component parties -- Pas, DAP and PKR -- collectively won 82 of the 222 parliamentary seats contested in last year's general election and jointly took control of the state assemblies of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition had denied BN a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Some political analysts view the forging of a loose electoral pact among the three parties as a personal triumph for Anwar, whose negotiation skills helped bring the rival groups together on the basis of principles held in common by the three parties, such as freedom, justice and democracy.

But the indications now are that all is not well within Pakatan Rakyat.

zubaidah@nst.com.my

Khairy: A mockery if BN contests Penanti

Malaysia Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar was in Sabah yesterday to attend the Sabah Umno Youth meeting at the party's headquarters in Kota Kinabalu. He witnessed the handing over of duty between out-going acting State Umno Youth chief Nizam Titingan Abu Bakar to newly appointed head Azman Ruslan.

Speaking to reporters, Khairy said it would be a mockery for Barisan Nasional to contest in the Penanti by-election.

He said the youth supported the party's leadership decision not to field candidate in the by-election which had been fixed by the Election Commission to be held on May 31, 2009. Nomination day will be on May 23, 2009.

"This (not contesting) is to protest the opposition's act of belittling the nation's democratic system. Its not that BN is afraid. BN has never been afraid of the opposition, BN had contested in previous by-elections," he said.

The by-election is held after the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who was also Penang Deputy Chief Minister, on March 19, 2009.

In the March 8, 2008 general election, Mohammad defeated BN-Umno's Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid. He polled 7,346 votes while Abdul Jalil garnered 5,127 votes.

This will be the second time the voters in Penanti to go to the poll since the general elections last year.

A by-election was also held last year in the Permatang Pauh's parliamentary constituency when PKR president Datin Azizah resigned. Her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim contested and won. Penanti is one of the state constituencies within Permatang Pauh.

Ex-MP Jawah PKR's man for Batang Ai

It is now confirmed that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the April 7, by-election in Batang Ai is former Member of Parliament for Lubok Antu Jawah Gerang (pic).

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who visited Lubuk Antu over the weekend, made the announcement in Kuching this morning.

A graduate in Economics from the University of Malaya, Jawah, 55, had worked with a bank in Kuching.

He was recruited by the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) for the Lubok Antu parliamentary by-election on 3 and 4 April 1987 when the incumbent MP Andrew Janggi Muyang died following a road accident.

He won with a thumping victory and continue to retain the seat for four more terms.

Jawah is contesting the state seat of Batang Ai in a by-election, which is part of Lubok Antu parliamentary seat, following the death of the incumbent Datuk Dublin Unting Ingkot.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate is agriculture engineer Malcolm Mussen Lamoh from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). His candidacy was announced by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmod last Saturday.

In the 2006 State elections, Dublin (BN) won the seat when he polled 3,295 votes, 806 more than the 2,489 votes garnered by SNAP's Nicholas Bawin Anggat.