No News Is Bad News
Anwar, the world's No. 11 Muslim leader ... Is this what Anwar is busy with, to move up his ranking instead of focusing all his time and energy on healing Malaysia's RM1.5 trillion national debt economy for the rakyat dan negara (people and country).
Not only NATO Anwar … he does not have a good team
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30, 2023: Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership style lacks decisiveness.
“He also does not have a good team. He needs to execute (more),” he added.
The TMJ has hit the nail on the head on Anwar and his Madani Unity Government.
That confirms Anwar is all NATO (No Action Talk Only) as many Malaysians have opined in social media on his leadership and governance since November.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below news related to Anwar’s administration:
Anwar needs to execute, lacks decisiveness, says TMJ
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim also says the prime minister does not have a good team.
Rex Tan - 29 Oct 2023, 11:25pm
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim appeared on a podcast hosted by Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan. (Keluar Sekejap Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership style lacks decisiveness.
“In my opinion, I think he has to execute more and make more decisions. In my view, I don’t think he has a good team.
“He has the desire to see the country do well, that’s for sure, but I think he should be braver in making decisions. You can’t appease all parties,” Tunku Ismail said on the most recent episode of Keluar Sekejap, hosted by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.
Later on in the programme, he agreed with Khairy’s views that with the government announcing numerous development blueprints, the focus would now turn to whether it could follow through.
“Maybe he is playing things too safe,” said Tunku Ismail.
Tunku Ismail’s goals as regent
Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail said he would focus on developing Johor’s education and infrastructure when he becomes the state’s regent.
His first priority will be to seek more autonomy for the state’s education department from the federal authority.
He also said he would consider closing down religious schools in Johor that have syllabuses that do not align with state religious department guidelines.
“I want to monitor all schools, the quality of the teachers, and the schools’ programmes. Even the religious schools.”
Tunku Ismail explained that he viewed education as key to “weeding out” religious extremism in his home state.
He also hoped to collaborate with the federal government to improve the state’s infrastructure, particularly its flood mitigation system.
On Oct 27, the Conference of Rulers agreed that the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, would be the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He will replace Pahang ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, whose term ends on Jan 30.
Following that, it’s expected that Tunku Ismail, who is the first in line to the Johor throne, will be appointed as the regent.
Saturday, 28 October 2023
Like it or not, majority of Malaysians may opt for PAS-PN in GE16
No News Is Bad News
Like it or not, majority of Malaysians may opt for PAS-PN in GE16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lTRp7qKTVk&t=75s (
ANWAR'S POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM BACKFIRES - FROM MALAYSIAN SCHOOLKIDS TOTING MACHINE GUNS TO EUROP...)
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29, 2023: Prior to and after the 15th General Ele4ctionb (GE15) in November, many Malaysians including No News Is Bad News would dismiss the possibility of the Taliban-like PAS wresting power in multiple states and Parliament.
Almost a year under the Anwar Ibrahim-led Unity Government (comprising 19 political parties), many would now not dismiss or doubt the PAS-Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition winning GE16 to form the federal government.
And it will all be Anwar, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Umno’s own doing to lose more political ground from Malaysian voters in GE16 which must be held in 2027.
There are three main reasons why Anwar, PH and Umno have disappointed their supporters:
> FAILURE to focus all its efforts and energy to show it is healing the country’s RM1.5 trillion national debt;
> FAILURE to clamp down on racial and religious bigots who threaten national unity and harmony; and
> FAILURE to deliver promised electoral promises and reformation, especially against corruption.
There is no doubt that GE16 is for PH and Barisan Nasional-Umno to lose.
If they lose too many parliamentary seats, not even the Sarawak-Sabah bloc can save multi-racial Malaysia from the Taliban-like PAS from governing the country.
So, PH-Umno, its yours to lose in GE16. Buck up now before it's too late.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below two news reports on the issues that are disappointing multi-racial-religious Malaysians:
PAS capable of helping PN win Perak, Pahang, says analyst
The party’s swelling popularity among Malay voters can be a deciding factor in the next polls given the two states’ racial composition.
Joel Shasitiran - 29 Oct 2023, 10:00am
PAS has significantly increased its presence in the Perak and Pahang state legislative assembllies in last year’s general election. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: PAS is capable of taking control of the Perak and Pahang legislative assemblies at the next elections as there is growing support from Malay voters, says an analyst.
Chin Yee Mun, who heads the Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), said the results of the 15th general election (GE15) last November showed the party gaining ground on Barisan Nasional (BN).t
“The seats won by BN in Malay-majority areas (in GE15) dropped compared with previous elections. Perikatan Nasional (PN) managed to make inroads, and this success was largely due to PAS supporters,” he told FMT.
PAS won just three state seats in Perak in the 14th general election (GE14) but managed to secure 17 seats in GE15, when the state polls was run concurrently.
In Pahang, the party added seven seats to their GE14 tally of eight, for a total of 15 seats.
With Bersatu winning nine and two seats in Perak and Pahang, respectively, PN now holds a total of 26 seats in the 59-seat Perak state assembly and 17 in the 42-seat Pahang state assembly.
During the recent PAS muktamar, election director Sanusi Nor said the party was aiming to take over the two states from BN in the next general election (GE16).
Chin said the racial make up of the states made a near-term victory possible, adding that any support gained from non-Malay voters would only strengthen their position.
“They can do things the ‘hard way’ (without non-Malay’s support), but this will mean polarising voters and this is not healthy, even if they win,” he said.
He said PAS still needed to prove it had the potential to credibly manage the economy in order to convince “fence sitters” such as disillusioned Umno supporters.
“Their ‘state government 4’ (SG4) concept is still in its infancy and may not be able to produce any convincing results soon,” he added, referring to the four states with a PAS-led government – Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu.
“However, these four states need to generate policies that are capable of attracting both capital and talent to build a strong economy.”
Awang Azman Pawi from Universiti Malaya (UM) agreed that PAS had been making good progress in the states but did not expect their ambitions to be met in the short-term.
He said that was because PAS had treated non-Malays as “punching bags” during past campaigns, it would be challenging to now try and win them back.
“It will be difficult for PAS to capture the non-Malay vote unless it changes its attitude and principles,” he added.
*From ANNONYMOUS to Anwar @ The Bukit Jalil rally*
Mr Madani's Wrong & screwed up priority, just wasting time & siok-sendiri playing to the gallery with more Antisemitism & hate speech against the Jews??? that will have serious/fatal repercussion against Malaysia's already weak economy and plunging ringgit when the world's economy is controlled by the powerful Jews businessmen and supported by their powerful economies of the G7!!
We, the good rakyat (the good Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhist, Sikhs and others) didn't vote you for all these garbage perpetuating the 2 R and supporting Hamas, throwing our $100 millions of taxpayers' good money after bad to Hamas ( to buy more weapons & rockets???) under the guise of defending Islam!!
Mr Madani, PKR & DAP, Where is the PROMISED REFORMASI & your 25 years clarion calls & constant demos needed for the critical institutional reforms to unite the people and save the country and bring the country forward?????
Why no demo against the wholesale massacre & genocide being committed where hundreds of thousands of innocent Muslim women & children are being constantly bombed, slaughtered & mercilesslly killed in Syria Aleppo and the city completely destroyed and flatten????
Why no calls to demostrate against the more heinous and evil crimes against humanity resulting to the largest humanitarian crisis in the world happening now in Yemen, an Islamic state, where tens of thousands have been killed and injured: thousands of Yemeni civilians are dying of hunger, where more than 20,000 Yemeni civilians were killed and injured since 2015, and a quarter of all civilians killed in air raids were women and children. More than 20 million people in Yemen are experiencing food insecurity; 10 million of them are at risk of famine & dying????!!!
Why no calls to rakyat to demo against the extremism and seditious hate speech against the Chinese, Indians & minoriries in your own country???
Where is the reformasi and demostration to eradicate the hedious corruption by the corrupt in power the last 50 years and promptly arrest the perpetrators /current & corrupt past ministers who are all walking free and still in power ?????!!
Why no calls to the rakyat to unite and condemn & end the 50 years NEVER Ending Policy /NEP of the heinous DISCRIMINATION, ABUSE and apartheid policy against the poor minorities???
Where is your reformasi and calls to the rakyat to demo and demand to end the suffering of the rakyat and escalating cost of living and rising prices and shortages of of essential food, rice & etc that is killing the people???
Where is your voice to enforce reformasi and calls to the rakyat to demo and demand to save the free falling and plunging worthless RINGGIT and the heinous $1.5 trillions (and still counting!!) in DEBTS affecting the worthless ringgit??!!!
While the rest of the developed world and Asean remain neutral, Malaysia a small & insignificant and a massive $1.5 trillion debts state is just digging our own grave and will face the consequences for perpetuating the 2 R and it's anti-Jew stand and will face severe backlash from the international business community controlled by the powerful Jew businessmen across the globe.
JOHOR’S OUTSPOKEN PRINCE SENDS A SHIVER THROUGH ANWAR & ZAHID – ONE IS INDECISIVE, DOESN’T HAVE A GOOD TEAM, LACKS COURAGE YET FOREVER WANTS TO PLAY HERO – WHILE THE OTHER SHOULD KNOW THAT FOR UMNO TO HAVE A FUTURE, “SOME HAVE TO GO”
Business, Politics | October 30, 2023 12:56 pm by | 0 Comments
Written by Wong Choon Mei, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) – Johor’s outspoken crown price Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has again called a spade a spade – embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is an indecisive leader and doesn’t have a good team!
Tunku Ismail also sent a shiver through Anwar’s closest ally Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, the current president of Umno – which for decades was the largest Malay political party in the country. However it has since been decisively overtaken by Pas in the past year or two as Malay voters rejected the massive corruption scandals shrouding Zahid and his predecessor Najib Razak.
“For Umno to have a future, some have to go If it is stuck with the old system, I do not think Umno has a future unless they change,” the NST reported Tunku Ismail as saying said on a podcast hosted by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.
ANWAR SYCOPHANTS & THE DANGEROUS GAME OF TRYING TO CREATE A CULT FOLLOWING FOR PMX
Najib, Anwar, Zahid
All eyes are on how the Little Napoleons – who may range from ministers to political secretaries – now squirming in Anwar’s inner circle will react to the strong and spot-on remarks of the TMJ, as the Johor prince is popularly called.
Will they try to bully Tunku Ismail into silence by freezing his social media accounts and then pretend in the way that cowards often do – by refusing to take responsibility and abusing their power with a pompous and stony silence.
“In my opinion, I think he has to execute more and make more decisions. In my view, I don’t think he has a good team,” TMJ elaborated.
The Johor prince hit another bullseye when he said Anwar needed to be braver in making decision and the focus now will be on whether Anwar’s regime can follow through with the grandiose development plans it has announced.
“Maybe he is playing things too safe,” said Tunku Ismail.
“He has the desire to see the country do well, that’s for sure, but I think he should be braver in making decisions. You can’t appease all parties.”
Indeed, what happens when Anwar’s regime starts to give in to the temptations of power – who will be left to blow the whistle on the corrupt after those who dare to get gagged,
I TOO HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS, TO GIVE OPINIONS, TO CRITICIZE
Khairy, TMJ, Shahril
As if in anticipation of the heated uproar that Anwar’s coterie of sycophants are bound to put up, the TMJ defended the rights of monarchs in the country to discuss politics and give their opinions.
“Why am I not allowed to talk about politics?
“We (royals) do not have to get involved in politics, but if we want to give an opinion then it’s okay. I am a citizen of the country too. We should not be exempted from our rights to give our take on politics.”
According to the TMJ, royal involvement in politics was necessary to maintain order in rising political situations.
“If I observe that certain actions are not being taken and that the rakyat (citizenry) are not receiving the benefits, I have the right to speak up and provide reminders.
““We are above politics, and politicians serve the people…I will always give politicians the most fundamental advice, which is to serve the people.”
AN ANWAR LEGACY OF NOTHINGNESS – JUST SYCOPHANCY & BROKEN PROMISES?
The Johor prince cited the example of certain countries in the Middle East that had Kings who were more stable compared to those which did not have any.
He also said that the royals here did not openly discuss politics because it was once a prohibited subject, but the situation had changed in recent years.
“I think TMJ was spot in his criticisms. It is quite clear that both Anwar and his best buddy Zahid have to go,” a political pundit told Politics Now!
“Having good intentions is no use and expecting to be given the PM’s post because you have waited for it since 1997 is ridiculous. Every Malaysian wants the best for their country but not everyone can be PM. However, I would say most of the ordinary folk will be selfless enough to make way for a more capable person to take over instead of fighting tooth and nail to stay PM like our past PMs have so far – from Mahathir to Najib, Muhyiddin and now Anwar himself.”
“What’s the point of leaving behind a legacy of weakness, sycophancy and broken promises. You may be able to bully and shut down some blogs who proactively criticized your leadership as lacking in substantive ideas and solutions and too lazy to go for the long-haul revamp. In other words, for being ‘tin kosong’ or empty vessel but are you and your sycophants ready to take on guys like the TMJ? “
“There are over 30 million people in Malaysia and when it’s too late and everyone starts to curse at your leadership for being incompetent and ineffective, will you shut down all their blogs and social media accounts too? It’s time for Anwar to wake up from the fantasy of his “greatness” as Pas has called it and stop being the proverbial emperor with no clothes,” the long-time political watcher added.
Written by Wong Choon Mei, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
Saturday, 28 October 2023
Madani Unity Government starts rotting away with disappointments
No News Is Bad News
Madani Unity Government starts rotting away with disappointments
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29, 2023: The 15th General Election (GE15) in November clearly showed that the Malays have rejected the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN).
They backed the Taliban-like PAS and its ally Perikatan Nasional (PN), led by the racist Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin not because they are anti-non-Malays but because of Alliance/BN’s nepotism, cronyism and patronage governance since Merdeka (Independence) 1957.
So, Malaysians generally rejected BN and opted for alternatives like PAS and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
But are PAS and PH delivering their electoral promises for good governance.
To the Malays, their only alternative is religious extremist PAS.
To the non-Malays, especially the Chinese and Indians, they have no other choice but to support PH (comprising DAP, PKR and Amanah).
The Taliban-like and religious extremist PAS frightens the non-Malays and is no option for them in politics and governance.
Unfortunately, the GE15 returned a hung Parliament - meaning no one party of coalition had the mjority (in numbers or seats) to form the federal government for the next five years.
Why then did the Malays not go for Anwar and PH? After all, he had fought for justice for 20 years in prison.
Perhaps the Malays saw something in Anwar that they did not trust, thus they opted for PAS.
The Anwar-led PH, with the most number (82) in the 222-seat Parliament was given the opportunity by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) to form a coalition government.
Anwar’s PH had no choice but to invite the much-hated and corrupt Umno to form the the federal government (Madani Unity Government) with the support of the Sarawak and Sabah political bloc.
However, after close to a year of the Madani UG, the non-Malays are feeling disappointed and see Anwar as a lame duck prime minister, even to the minority Umno.
Malaysians in Peninsula are also looking at the political maturity and governance of Sarawak and Sabah where race and and religion are of no concern to them.
They loathe the racial and religious bigoted politics and governance of the federal governments and today are united politically and are courageously making their own decisions on what is right or wrong to them in governance.
They do not fear the federal government, and without fear or favour, reject policies that cause racial and religious dispute.
So, did the Malays make the right choice to opt for PAS and are the non-Malays now regretting backing Anwar and PH?
Time will tell and that is likely to be in the next GE which must be held in 2027.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below two articles related to the political dilemma of Malaysians:
THE FUTURE IS IN PAS’ OWN HANDS – NOW THE MOST POWERFUL PARTY IN MALAYSIA, BIGGER EVEN THAN DAP, WHETHER PAS CAN OVERCOME ‘HADI-PHOBIA’ – AND WIN BACK THE NON-MALAY VOTE DEPENDS ON HOW SINCERE ITS ACTIONS ARE, AND NOT MERE WORDS
Business, Politics | October 27, 2023 9:33 am by | 0 Comments
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) – It is true – most non-Malays do dislike and distrust Pas. And these feelings have grown steadily over the past few years, reaching a point from which there may be no return as hatred for each other on both side becomes so entrenched it may become generational, passed on from one generation to the next.
But the root causes of why non-Malays fear Pas is not as Pas chief Hadi Awang so conveniently imputes it to be – Islamophobia!
Non-Malays do not dislike Islam, they may not agree with Shariah law or accept hudud – but then neither do many Muslims.
As analyst Wong Chin Huat puts it, rejection of Pas should not be equated with Islamophobia because “Islam cannot be equated with any political party”.
After all, Umno members until 2020 had rejected Pas, as did Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). Should those parties also be considered Islamophobic?
And instead of blaming rival party, the DAP, Pas should look at itself because it is now the biggest and most powerful party in the country.
“There is one party more powerful than DAP in shaping the perceptions of non-Malay voters regarding Pas. That party is none other than Pas itself,” said Chin Huat in a report for Sinar Daily.
WHEN NIK AZIZ WAS ALIVE, WHY DIDN’T NON-MALAYS HATE PAS THEN?
Indeed Pas members should reflect and question Hadi: if what you say is true, why then did the non-Malays throw their support fully behind us when Nik Aziz was alive and we were part of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance?
So when did the divergence in paths occur? Was it not after Nik Aziz died and Pas left Pakatan Rakyat?
Yes, the ‘split’ came after Pas abandoned its ‘Pas for All’ strategy – opting to shift to the extreme right and become a hardline, conservative party only for Malays and Muslims.
ISLAMOPHOBIA OR HADI-PHOBIA?
How reasonable then is Hadi to blame non-Malay fear of Pas on a phobia for Islam? It would be way more accurate to say non-Malays dislike Pas because of a phobia for him. And the radical and racist posturing of other Pas leaders close to him, such as Kedah MB Sanusi Md Nor.
For sure, Hadi supporters will rush to his defence but a look at the list of controversial and hurtful statements issued by Hadi against the non-Malays, compiled by Chin Huat, will show it’s Hadi-phobia and not Islamophobia that is keep non-Malays far way from the Pas ballot boxes.
THE FUTURE IS IN PAS’ OWN HANDS
Many non-Malays are actually hoping Hadi himself and his blue-eyed boys including Terengganu MB Samsuri Mokhtar will be reasonable and honest enough with themselves to see their own roles in chasing away the non-Malay votes.
As the Finance Twitter portal wrote – for now it may be too little and too late to expect the non-Malays to trust Hadi and Pas again. But the future is in the hands of Pas’ own leaders.
If they continue to believe they are supreme and above the non-Malays, which actually contradicts Islamic principles, and to behave as if Malaysia is not a multiracial country and only Muslims have rights than need to be respected, then Hadi and his party might as well stop begging for non-Malay support because it will never come.
“The so-called “green wave” saw Opposition Perikatan Nasional (made up of PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan) winning a whopping 74 seats in the 222-seat parliament. Yet, despite PAS winning 43 seats and 4 states – becoming the single-largest party – the Islamist extremists have been fantastically frustrated and furious for not being able to form the government. The 80% Malay votes it had won were insufficient,” wrote Finance Twitter.
“Crucially, the August six state elections and Johor by-elections (September) show the conservative Malays and green wave failed to penetrate the southern part of the country. Led by former backdoor prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the opposition only managed to capture four of the poorest states (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis), even though Muhyiddin’s Bersatu has zero state to rule.”
“To add salt into the wound, PAS Islamist party was not only rejected by the non-Malays but also the Bumiputera in Sabah and Sarawak, the majority of whom are Christian. While PAS preached that anyone who does not vote for them will go to hell, Muhyiddin showed his true colour when he spread fake news that Christians are working with Jews to Christianise Malaysia.”
“Therefore, by hook or by crook, Hadi had to make a spectacular U-turn and pretend to be “non-Muslims-friendly”. Without support from the non-Muslims, PAS cannot win the election, let alone allow the PAS president to become the next prime minister. Hadi needs to do more than just claiming that PAS had always demonstrated religious freedom.”
“The problem is the Chinese and Indian still remember clearly how Hadi said non-Muslims should be grateful that they have been given “a place” in this country – suggesting that the non-Muslims must forever “kowtow”, work like a dog and pay taxes no matter how much they are being bullied, discriminated and oppressed,”
List of controversial and hurtful remarks from Hadi, Pas leaders (compiled by Chin Huat)
On January 18, 2016, Harakah published a statement by Hadi stating that Christian evangelists were attempting to spread Christianity among the poor.
Two Christians in Sabah took this matter to court but failed to obtain a declaration. He had incited and is someone unsuitable to hold public office.
On December 25, 2017, Hadi was reported to have stated that ministerial positions should only be held by Muslims.
This statement was later cushioned to mean that non-Muslims could be ministers but only as implementers, not policy-makers.
On August 20, 2022, Hadi was reported to have stated that most bribe givers were non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras.
The police investigated this case last April, but no further action has occurred.
On May 29, the Kedah Menteri Besar from Pas, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, claimed that Penang belonged to Kedah historically in the 18th century.
Using the same argument, Perlis, northern Perak, and Satun (a province in Thailand) are also part of Kedah, but only Penang, with its non-Malay majority, was claimed.
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
No clear winner as Malaysia election ends in hung parliament
Coalition led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim wins most seats, but group led by ex-PM Muhyiddin Yassin make gains.
If Anwar Ibrahim wins, it would cap a remarkable journey for a politician who, in 25 years, has gone from heir apparent to the premiership to a prisoner convicted of sodomy, to the country's leading opposition figure [Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters]
Published On 19 Nov 202219 Nov 2022
Malaysia’s tightly contested general election has ended in a hung parliament, with the coalition led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim winning the most seats followed by a grouping including the country’s Islamist party a few seats behind.
Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition secured 82 seats in the 222-member parliament while former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Malay-based Perikatan Nasional (PN) trailed behind with 73 seats, the Election Commission of Malaysia said early on Sunday morning. Voting was suspended in one seat in the Borneo state of Sarawak after flooding made it impossible for elections workers and voters to get to some polling stations.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition – dominated by his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party – suffered major upsets, emerging with just 30 seats. It was a major turnaround for an alliance that dominated Malaysia’s political landscape since its independence nearly 60 years ago.
Anwar and Muhyiddin each claimed their coalitions had enough support to form the government, although they did not reveal which parties they had allied with. Key to the formation of any government will be the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak, which have long sought greater influence at the federal level.
Coalition talks were continuing on Sunday.
Malaysia’s political landscape has become increasingly fractured in recent years. PH’s historic win in 2018 triggered political infighting among ethnic Malay parties that played on concerns about race and religion in a country that is mostly Malay Muslim but has significant communities of Indigenous people and those of Chinese and Indian origin.
PH fell to a power grab in February 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, and the country has had three prime ministers in as many years.
Many of the former PH politicians who helped engineer that collapse were soundly punished at the ballot box, with one even losing her deposit.
Also losing his deposit was veteran former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who at 97 had set up another Malay-based party in the wake of PH’s collapse. Mahathir came in fourth in a five-way fight on the resort island of Langkawi, the election commission said. It was a shock defeat for someone who had led Malaysia for some 22 years until 2003, and was once revered for his role in turning Malaysia into an export giant.
Muhyiddin’s PN made gains thanks to a surge in support for PAS, an Islamist party that expanded further across northern and central Malaysia from its traditional strongholds.
In another shocking defeat, the PAS candidate beat Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar in the family’s longtime stronghold in Penang state.
Muhyiddin’s new National Alliance, which includes a Malay-centric conservative party and an Islamist party, made substantial gains [Malaysian Department of Information/Nazri Rapaai/Handout via Reuters]
PN was a junior partner in Ismail’s coalition government, and there was speculation that the two could come together again to block Anwar.
Anwar said he would submit a letter to Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah detailing his support. If he clinches the top job, it would mark a remarkable comeback for a politician who was Mahathir’s deputy and heir apparent before he was suddenly sacked and accused of sodomy at the height of the Asian financial crisis in 1998. He has been jailed twice on sodomy charges, but his political fall and rise helped fuel Malaysia’s reform movement and break BN’s political dominance.
PN supporters watch a video stream for live results of Malaysia’s 15th general election in Shah Alam, Malaysia, on November 19, 2022 [Lai Seng Sin/Reuters]
Expected outcome
Reporting from outside Kuala Lumpur, Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi said the results were similar to what opinion polls had predicted, with no single party or coalition having a clear majority.
“There is not one party that has enough seats to form a government on their own. Now this means the smaller parties will be in a position to play kingmaker and I expect negotiations and horse trading would have already started behind closed doors.”
Ismail Sabri’s BN alliance said it accepted the people’s decision but stopped short of conceding defeat, saying in a statement it remains committed to forming a stable government.
There were calls from some in UMNO for the resignation of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the party’s president who is widely thought to have pressured Ismail Sabri, one of the party’s three vice presidents, into holding the election.
Turnout was 73.89 percent, the Elections Commission said on Sunday.
Voter turnout in 2018 was one of the highest at 82 percent, but the pool of voters in this year’s election was larger as a result of automatic voter registration and the reduction in the voting age to 18.
The total number of eligible voters was 21.1 million, six million more than last time.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
Saturday, 28 October 2023
‘Sick’ Anwar-led Madani Government
No News Is Bad News
‘Sick’ Anwar-led Madani Government
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29, 2023: In terms of socio-economic development, there is hardly any doubt among sane and law-abiding Malaysians that Sarawakins are way ahead of the federal government.
And, Sarawak today is more forward in socio-economic development momentum.
Shame on the federal governments and leaders since Merdeka (Independence) 1957.
For far too long, Sarawak and Sabah have been treated as second class states by the federal governments in terms of economic and infrastructure developments.
However, today, the Borneo states are fighting back politically and in governance to develop their states themselves and applying pressure on Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani Government to be given a fair share of socio-economic-infrastructure development allocations.
With the ongoing “rubbish and sick” policies of the Madani Government, it will not be any surprise that Sarawak and Sabah develop faster and overtake Peninsula Malaysia in the next decade or two.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below what a Sarawakian veteran newsman has to say about the current Government:
Leave Sarawak out of Putrajaya’s ‘sick’ policies
Francis Paul Siah
28 October, 2023
Malaysiakini
COMMENT
I wouldn’t dare claim that I speak for Sarawak.
However, as a Sarawakian, I wish to say that I speak for myself, at the very least, and I’m sure, many Sarawakians too on these current issues which I would describe as “sick” instructions and policies from Putrajaya.
How do I know that there is a large cross-section of my fellow Sarawakians who are in agreement with my views at times? They responded in the affirmative to my posts.
Here’s an example. In my previous article on the Middle East conflict, where I urged the Madani government not to take sides but to consider humanitarian aid for all the innocent victims of war, more than 90 percent of those on my contact list, the majority of whom are Sarawakians of various beliefs, stated their agreement.
I’m also happy to mention that a Malay minister from Sarawak also agreed with my neutral stand and for Malaysia to be a peacemaker and help find solutions to the conflict.
I do not have the minister’s permission to mention names, so it would be unethical for me to reveal the person’s identity.
Seriously, why should anyone be surprised that Malays/Muslims in Sarawak are different from those in Malaya? I have written on this matter before and allow me to recap.
In October 2019, I wrote that Sarawak Malays are already a dignified race and they do not need a Malay Dignity Congress like certain Malay groups in Malaya.
To the academicians from the four universities who initiated the event on Oct 6 four years ago, it might be worth your while to learn from your fellow Malays in Sarawak.
I wrote then: “Simple folks they might be from Borneo, but they are already a dignified race. Sarawak Malays must have been riding on the right track of race relations all along.
“Surely, something must be wrong somewhere if a section of Malays in Malaya feel that they have no dignity left or that their dignity has been threatened”, I added.
On another occasion, I wrote that “Sarawak Malays have no interest in ‘Malay Proclamation’, a declaration initiated by Dr Mahathir Mohamad in May this year.
To the Malays in Sarawak, it is not way off to state that Mahathir’s Malay Proclamation is a useless, worthless document which means nothing to them.
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg was also quick to dismiss the event, saying “I have no knowledge of the ‘Malay Proclamation’.
“How would I know? We are still busy celebrating Hari Raya in Sarawak, and then the incoming Gawai celebration. Why should I be bothered about issues there (Peninsular Malaysia)?” Abang Johari was reported as saying.
I’m rewinding these two events for a reason and that is to remind Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim not to try too hard to be seen as the Malay hero at home and abroad.
There are also Malays/Muslims in Sarawak, and in Sabah too, who have a different perspective about race/religion matters.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) may be partners in Anwar’s Madani government, but the prime minister must never think that he could lead Sarawakians and Sabahans by the nose.
No, sir. I believe the people in the two Borneo territories are aware that they have been taken for a ride for too long and I want Anwar to know that many in Sabah and Sarawak (and I am certainly one of them) resent some Malayan politicians in power for this reason.
So, Anwar and all future prime ministers, don’t push your luck too far with Sarawakians and Sabahans.
We know what we want and for many of us, the next best thing to do is to secede - yes, secession, you heard it right. (I know that’s a “bad word” for many who intend to continue milking the rich resources from Sabah and Sarawak.)
When Putrajaya started introducing “sick” policies like now, how do you expect us, in Sabah and Sarawak, to feel?
When you want to force our schools and students to organise the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools from Oct 29 to Nov 3, that must surely be the worst thing to happen in the history of Sarawak education.
Although it has now been clarified that the event is not mandatory in Sarawak, it is bad enough to involve our schools and students in an emotive issue associated with spite, hatred and anger.
And we have to hear the most “Stupid” (stupid with a capital ‘S’) argument from the Education Ministry that the Palestine Solidarity Week in schools will teach students about humanitarian values and to practise empathy.
To the education minister and her staff, there is a word for stupidity in Sarawak. It is called “paloi”. I see no point in arguing with “paloi” ministers and some of their brainless department heads.
However, I honestly doubt that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek would even dare to plan the controversial Palestine Solidarity Week without instruction from her boss, the prime minister.
I would like to know whether this matter was brought up for discussion in the cabinet before a decision was made.
If so, what was the input from the other ministers? Was the objection to the event, if any, noted?
Make public the names of ministers who had opposed staging the Palestine Solidarity Week. Don’t pretend there was a general consensus to hold the event. I cannot believe that.
What about the other recent “sick” policy from Putrajaya that all government departments should not entertain any letters written in a language other than the national language Bahasa Malaysia?
I’m glad this was quickly brushed off by Sarawak state secretary Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki that the ruling does not apply to Sarawak.
Not only that, he also said that federal departments have to accept correspondences from Sarawak written in English as well.
The state secretary made it clear that Sarawak civil service can continue to use English in official communications.
Again, why a need for such a directive from Putrajaya, which is not applicable nationwide?
Eleven months in, Anwar has fumbled again and again but each time, I could forgive him.
This time is different. I believe Anwar is trying his utmost to gain international recognition as a Muslim leader, losing sight in the process that he is prime minister of a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural secular Malaysia.
Just be wary, Mr Prime Minister, when you try to push too hard on race, religion and language issues upon Malaysians, there are the Borneo territories where our beliefs, cultures and priorities are different from Malaya.
The day we cannot take it anymore, I believe we should seriously work out a solution to our fundamental differences. Perhaps, the best way is to exit.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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