Saturday, December 26, 2009

PAS Selangor at a crossroads?

Hasan has repeatedly clashed with his Pakatan Rakyat partners. — File pic

By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Dec 23 — PAS may end up the biggest losers in Selangor come the next general elections.

The Islamic party, which won eight out of the 56 state seats in Election 2008, in mostly urban or semi-urban constituencies, stands to lose the support of non-Muslims who make up between 20 and 40 per of voters in these constituencies, according to its own ground reports.

PAS contested a further 12 seats in predominantly rural Malay majority constituencies but lost all of them to Umno.

A PAS state lawmaker, who did not want to be named, told The Malaysian Insider that the support the party received from non-Muslims is dissipating.

“I don’t even know if I can retain my own seat in the next general elections.

“I’m on the ground, we meet the non-Malays and know they are not happy,” he said, adding that their main grouse is against the state Pas leadership, which has invited one controversy after another.

Earlier this year, PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali proposed a beer ban for Muslim-majority areas and moved to empower mosques officials to arrest Muslims caught drinking.

Although PAS attempted to explain that the proposals, which were eventually not implemented, would only affect Muslims, it triggered uneasiness among non-Muslims and created the perception that the party was pushing a hard-line Islamic agenda.

Non-muslims make up 47 per cent of Selangor ‘s population.

Worse still, Hasan has repeatedly clashed with his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.

He made an open challenge in the media calling for his State Executive colleague, Ronnie Liu, to resign for allegedly ordering the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) to return beer seized illegally from a 7-Eleven outlet.

More recently he caused another stir by undermining the authority of the special select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) which was investigating abuse of state funds by former Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers just before the general elections last year.

Hasan accused Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who heads the state government watchdog, of bullying civil servants during a public inquiry into the misuse of funds.

“I think we are going to be in trouble if there is no change in direction or in the state leadership,” said the Pas lawmaker.

Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Center for Independent Research who spoke to The Malaysian Insider did not, however, completely share the lawmaker’s pessimism.

“Overall PAS is gaining more support from non-Muslims, more so now after last week’s PR Convention when they reiterated their stand with the coalition.”

Before the March 8 general elections, non-Malay sentiment was to vote for any party which was not in the ruling BN coalition including PAS despite the reservations they might have had about the Islamic party.

In subsequent by-elections, Chinese and Indians, especially in Perak, willingly voted for PAS.

However, in Selangor, he could not discount the negative publicity generated by Pas Selangor including forcing their values on non-Muslims.

“Their urban seats could be in jeopardy.”

Whether Selangor PAS continues to clash with their PR partners and alienate non-Muslims could depend on the party’s disciplinary committee.

Hasan, along with his one-time deputy, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who has openly criticised the former’s policies have been hauled up before the committee for “jeopardizing the party’s image.”

Both men have responded to show-cause letters and the disciplinary committee is expected to decide on the next course of action today.

The committee could decide there is no case to answer, which would lead to status quo in the state leadership, or opt to suspend or remove Hasan as state commissioner, but this is unlikely because of his close links to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who appointed him in the first place.

The most likely outcome could be a face-saving slap on the wrist for either Hasan or for both men.

Fear of superior BN machinery caused third vote rejection

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) officials had raised concerns that even Kota Baru in the PAS stronghold state of Kelantan could fall into the hands of Barisan Nasional (BN) if local council elections were restored.

These concerns caused PR to water down its commitment to restore local council elections should the fledgling coalition take federal power.

PR officials from DAP, PAS and PKR who spoke to The Malaysian Insider confirmed the coalition's technical committee, responsible for putting together its common platform, had grappled at length with the issue amid fears that the BN machinery, which they considered far superior to that of PR’s, would grab the lion's share of local council seats.

And in doing so, it was felt that BN could cause problems even for the administration of PR-held states.

These "tactical considerations" were understood to have been brought up by PAS.

"In terms of resources, certain quarters fear that they will not be able to compete with the BN machinery and major cities within PR-controlled states," said one senior PR leader.

"One of the major concerns raised during PR's secretariat meeting on this issue is that Kota Baru will fall into BN hands," he added.

The fall of Kota Baru — the administrative capital of PAS-ruled Kelantan — into their political rivals' hands would be disastrous for the party, it was argued.

Another senior leader from PKR concurred with this tactical view, saying that in Selangor itself the pact faced various technical problems pertaining to the third vote.

"In principle I will tell you that nobody in PR disagrees with the view that the third vote should be implemented."

The senior leader explained that there was a pervasive fear that BN would have the upper hand should the third vote be restored, given their superior resources and also the fact that civil servants within local councils "are tied to the BN-led federal government".

Another problem PR is facing, said the PKR leader, is with how the municipalities are carved out.

PR-led state governments are losing out to the BN-led federal government in terms of cash and while maintaining municipalities should be done by local councils, the federal government is also pouring in money into them in a bid to woo voters.

"So our supporters on the ground feel that we often lose out to BN. While we struggle to maintain the big municipalities with our limited resources, they can easily pour in cash," said the leader.

28 comments:

  1. So. Go and join UMNO. Then Barisan will loose more seats. It is soooo simple. What is the problem?

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  2. pls visit:

    http://datochng.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post_26.html

    good article.

    MCA

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  3. Oh that Chng Toh Eng ? another triad member ! haha one of the master mind of the 803 and a henchman of Ling Liong Sik , the godfather of triadism . haha

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  4. With Hasan Ali and Hadi Awang around, I will not vote PAS. I supported PAS but with these UMNO trojans, better play safe by spoiling my vote.

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  5. I can assure you that PAS will also lose the urban Malay vote in Selangor by the next General Election.

    I for one will make sure of it.

    So here's a warning to PR. PAS is fine to take the rural seats, but put someone with more common sense and the ability to mediate the various beliefs of these areas, or be prepared to lose a couple of seats belonging to PAS in the urban areas.

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  6. PAS leadership has to change right from Hadi Awang to those pro UMNO DUNs and MPs, if these same candidates to be field in Selangor again on next GE13 then PR and PAS are the loser. PR Selangor better be smart to field independent candidates at all those problem PAS areas, and officially announced the independence candidate's name, so that the people at the constituencies may know whom to vote for if they think that PAS candidate in that constituency is not reliable

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  7. It is very disapointing to note PAS is moving away from the election manisfesto which promises no race or religious disparity among Malaysians will be allowed if PR come to power. In Selangor the series of events and disputes happened does not augur well for the future of PAS or even PR for that matter. I personnaly oppose any discrimination against race or religion in Selangor. Pas should stop thinking like a child in enforcing Islamic values to the Rakyat. We are not fools to accept what ever you say and introduce with a hidden agenda. The Pas Leadership should look at TOK GURU for advise. He is the only person who is fair and work towards the welfare of all Malaysians. Anyway if we don't see changes in PAS leadership I am sure our vote is not for you. I mean it. Voter from Shah Alam.

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  8. If Pas surrenders its Islamic principles to please non-Muslims, then it should cease to exist. It is unfair for non-Muslims to demand the party to abandon Islamic principles to win elections. In short, Islam has no future in Pakatan Rakyat. PKR and DAP should drop Pas and fight Umno alone. Maybe many cannot understand that it is Pas' endorsement that give credibility to PR for the Malays.

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  9. actually not only non muslim support they have lost, they are also losing muslim votes cos of the hardline stand they took in Selangor. PAS Selangor clearly deserve it and PAS at national level stood by watching and did nothing which also has an impact on national level.Only TGNA's profile able to minimise at national level. How to reverse it, well demote Hasan. He is the main reason for this decline.

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  10. Do not boycott PAS in the next GE! Vote the culprits out! Culprits like hasan ally of bn, must be voted out at all cost for the sake of PR to prosper as a coalition and as a strong Government. The voters should also know what to do with Wee Choo Keong, Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Hadi Awang himself. Let us support and vote PR, but in some constituencies where PAS must be voted out, we vote them out and send them back to UMNO.

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  11. I personally feel PAS is keep mum over their main objective to setup an Islamic state. When that happens, we the non Muslims are goners. No Magnum, Toto or drinking because we need moral policing.

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  12. I have no faith in any of the current PAS MPs in the area of Selangor and I'll state my case individually.

    MP from Shah Alam - Khalid Abdul Samad

    I've made it no secret that I voted for this guy in the last GE. However, when you are ignorant that your Muslimah wing of the Shah Alam area suddenly wants to refer Sisters in Islam to the Fatwa Council, and take no responsibility over it, I have a problem.

    Secondly, when you lie right here in your writing space, stating that the UMNO state government closed down a surau in Section 8, Shah Alam, when it was the Sultan himself who ordered it, I take offense.

    Ignorance is bliss, feigning ignorance is just pure stupidity.

    MP from Hulu Selangor - Zulkifly Ahmad

    He's a brilliant intellectual, no doubt. However, I am against anyone who goes on the record supporting the caning of Kartika, and then states that the media overplayed the issues plaguing PAS. Those who are clueless can refer to Popteevee for reference.

    For the other two MPs from PAS, I have yet to find their thoughts on social issues, so till then, I'll reserve my ire towards them.

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  13. Crossroad? There is only one single route as far as PAS is concerned. The road is to turn this country into a theoracratic islamic nation where Hudud reigns supreme. There will be no compromise, even doing so means crossing a dead body of Karpal Singh (For a note Karpal Singh in March this year has challenged PAS to cross his dead body first before they can even dream setting-up the islamic state). PAS is well on its path to an islamic glory. It is immaterial what others say. Pas intends to achieve this with or without Pakatan. I salute PAS for its wisdom and mission.

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  14. PAS makes me uneasy.

    Their views and ideas are too extreme for a modern developed state. Besides the non-Malays, I believe that a large number of urban Malays would also want to have a more self driven religious consciousness and not have other dictate to them.

    Well, at least this seems to apply to my Malay friends. Of course most of them are overseas graduates. But then so are many urban Malays. And most of these guys also speaks English as well and have a more open mind.

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  15. What I know is these 2 guys in PAS making unneccessary problem in PR. Ban concert, ban beer, and etc. Don't they have nothing to do? They should join NGO of Banning not as politician. Dont waste Malaysian time anymore. Do what a politician should do.

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  16. This is not an excuse to reject third vote.
    Pour with money or limited resource, it is the policy and vision dictate the mind of people.
    Only dumbest rakyat will blind by BN's dirty money and continue to woo the fools.
    We want our vote back, and no delay.

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  17. Giving in even without a fight shows lack of confidence! If you do not restore municipal elections, you can be sure that BN will use that against you as a failed promise. They will then promise to restore the elections and that is the end of PR. YOu should have thought about this before you made the promise. If the BN capitalises on your failure to keep the promise,as I think they would, you will hand back the PR states to BN on a golden platter.

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  18. What an excuse this is! If this is true why then promised all of us that local councils election will be held. The promise to be open and to form a government which is by the people and for the people had got all of us excited. Now you are telling us it can not be done because you are afraid of losing. What else?

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  19. There is actually no honest support for PAS in the first place. The non-Muslims merely used PAS's candidates as a front to bash BN. The non-Muslims especially those in the Klang valley knows too well what PAS represent. There is no hiding about their feelings about PAS behind the glare of the medias.
    For PAS is an Islamic force for the Islamisation of the land where ever they are. An ideology that is controversial and unacceptable by the majority of advance and modern minds. Only a conservative mind would allow one's life to be controlled by a few ulamaks.

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  20. A PAS state lawmaker, who did not want to be named, told The Malaysian Insider that the support the party received from non-Muslims is dissipating."

    similarly, PAS fastly losing respect among the malysa for not doing enough to implement Shariaah law in Selangor. Many Malays have decide not to vote for PAS next election. PAS better get out from the Pakatan Rakyat as soon as possible to regain the Malay support. PAS is in a tight situation , to be or not be with pakatan Rakyat and of course no to BN.

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  21. what is the problem with PR?..u cannot held local election then u blame BN machinery, why u cannot blame yourself and take it as gentleman.
    more people in these days think about their income and how they can feed their family than thinking about restoration of local elections.
    now i'm sure PR's racist and hoolingans will condemn my statements. have a nice day, it is a free country :p

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  22. The non-Muslim believe there are so many more important practical issues other than Islamic ones. PAS Selangor behaviour just sents the idea that they are more interested in political Islam over practical issues which suspiciously means that PAS Selangor is no better as in govt than UMNO...

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  23. stand on your own feet12/28/2009 08:38:00 AM

    The rakyat want check and balance on local council, state administration and federal government !

    Note to PR, why rakyat put you where you are now for a reason and we want PR law makers to bite the bullet and implement CHANGE. It will be paintful but we look forward for a better Malaysia!

    IF you think BN election machinery is powerful then crash it !
    IF you think BN works with corrupted money then clean it !
    IF you think you can't carry out the job then let others do it!

    There is ONE KPI for PR law makers now, honour your pledge to the rakyat! If you did, rakyat will be the judge come next GE.

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  24. What's wrong with the federal government pouring in cash if its going to benefit the general public? I don't understand why the fear. As long as the PR led state government oversee that whatever resources that are poured in, whether from the state or federal coffers are properly used, there shouldnt be any problems whatsoever. Isn't the local council answerable to the state government anyway? So what if they are BN friendly? If they are not performing get the whip out!
    Federal Government works for the public, State Government works for the public, Local Council works for the public. Whoever does the job better gets our votes, plain and simple. Please let the public decide where we put our money. Thanks

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  25. So much for the "real democracy". Looks like Pakatan doesn't need 52years to be as corrupted and power crazed as BeEnd. Remember that the power is in the hands of the rakyat, o pakatan leaders. These excuses should not be tolerated. The rakyat will teach Pakatan a lesson in the next election, I can assure you.

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  26. year of the snake12/28/2009 08:46:00 AM

    There is no way PR can win the next GE and go to Putra Jaya. First some people are fed-up with the bickering among the partners, Secondly some of the candidates who won in the previous election would loose in the next GE as sentiments would be different because the people are openly saying that they regret voting for them. Lastly but the most important is the contribution from East Malaysia which will still produce 90-95% of the elected MPs.

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  27. political ninja12/28/2009 08:48:00 AM

    urggh...why is it every time u guys commenting something like "returning democracy to the country and rakyat" or "IF you think BN election machinery is powerful then crash it! etc, etc" as if it's going to be a walk in the park?

    Read the headlines!!! PAS needed to get back on PR's saddle before they even begin to think about bringing democracy back to people or taking over Putrajaya. People are still not happy with their hardline islamic agenda and bickering leaders. Failure to acknowledge their own weaknesses in the first place will be the failure to the rest of PR's coalition effort to take over Putrajaya in next GE.

    So, stop talking as if things will get better sooner than tomorrow, when PAS still creating more mess every single day. Get Anwar or Zaid or whoever to slap PAS leaders' faces and make them realize that they dont even have their own personal parking space in Putrajaya let alone trying to over the place. Work things out and get their acts together, nuff said.

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  28. Again, the rakyat is viewed with the same disdain by both UMNO and Pakatan Rakyat.

    If Pakatan Rakyat do not trust the rakyat to vote wisely, why should the rakyat trust Pakatan Rakyat? A lot of your present MPs and ADUNs are less than satisfactory characters but the rakyat voted for Pakatan as an alternative to BN.

    Pakatan expects the rakyat to vote them into power but does not trust the rakyat to vote wisely in local elections.

    What is needed are checks and balances to allow local councils that abuse its powers to be removed by the rakyat in a referendum. Build that into the law. On a local level, it is harder to cheat and lie to the rakyat. The rakyat can see their faces. It is on a national level that is difficult for the rakyat to act against rogue MPs.

    Already, Pakatan is picking up the unsavory aspects of UMNO.

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