Friday, August 01, 2008

Wan Azizah, Permatang Pauh, Anwar and "arrest'

Well, Wan Azizah, duly elected people's representative resigned as MP of Permatang Pauh. Why? So that her husband Anwar Ibrahim can contest...maybe win...maybe become the next MP of Permatang Pauh.

Question:- Did Wan Azizah consult with the people of her constituency before she resigned? Wonder whether the people of Permatang Pauh voted Wan Azizah as MP because of who she was as a person OR was it because of the party under which she stood for elections in March. If it was because she stood under a particular party, then it matters less if she resigns now and some one else stands again. If they voted Wan Azizah the person, then she may be said to have 'betrayed' her contituents for they wanted her not her daughter, her son or her husband.

I really hope that Malaysians are voting for the person - not so much the party symbols they stand under. There was a joke before, that in some areas even a 'kambing' running under the BN symbol will win. The party is a consideration, but surely the person and the personality should be the biggest consideration for the voter. (I may be an idealist...a dreamer...)

I was hoping that at last we may be looking at a women Prime Minister for Malaysia come September 16, if Pakatan Rakyat managed to wrest the support of the majority of the MPs in Parliament - Anwar could have been an effective advisor.

Somehow, I still believe that it may be better if some one else, other than Anwar, becomes the Prime Minister, if Pakatan Rakyat were to form government. Wan Azizah would have been a good choice - but now, maybe we could be looking at mild mannered committed Professor Syed Husin Ali (who should really run for the Kulim seat). Lim Kit Siang and Hadi could be Deputy Prime Ministers. Anwar would be Advisor - just like Kuan Yew in Singapore. There are many many reasons as to why de facto Pakatan Rakyat leader should not be the PM - but that is for another day and another time.

Now, the SODOMY charge. There is a threat of impending arrest... Why? Because the police have allegedly completed investigations and Syed Hamid told us yesterday that the investigation papers have been sent to the AG.

If the AG wants to charge Anwar, then he may be arrested and brought to court and charged. Note that Anwar can also be informed that he should attend court to be charged - i.e. without there being any necessity to arrest him with masked police personnel etc..

Either way, after he is charged - he will likely to plead "Not Guilty" and then there will be the Bail application - and he should be out on bail. Even, if Anwar is denied bail - and has to be in remand prison - he can still contest. Even if they use the ISA and detain him, he can still contest - remember DAP's Manoharan a Selangor ADUN, elected while in detention.

My only concern is the corruption, the threats and promises which may be there in the coming Permatang Pauh Parliamentary election - and beware, Najib may lead the campaign for the BN and there are still questions how Najib did so well in the last GE2008 by winning with a majority of 26,464, compared to a majority of 22,922 (2004) and 241 (1999).

GE2008:
P85 - PEKANTurnout : 47869 (82.2%) Spoilt: 1261
Voters: 58217
* Mohd Najib Abdul Razak (BN - UMNO)36262Maj: 26464
Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin (OPP - PKR)9798



GE2004
Mohd Najib Abdul Razak (BN - UMNO)31956Maj: 22922
Zakaria Dahlan (OPP - PAS)9034
General Elections 1999

Ramli Mohamed (OPP PAS)
12907
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (BN UMNO)
13148


Total Votes cast % Votes cast Spoilt Votes Majority Votes
26055 73.2 631 241

Well, when results all over the country saw an increase in votes for the opposition and a decrease of votes for the BN candidate - Mohd Najib Abdul Razak saw an increase. Either, the constituents really liked this man OR... Anyway, the involvement of Najib in the Permatang Pauh by-elections must be a concern for Anwar ..

Interesting, his name is MOHD Najib Abdul Razak -- therefore R.A.H.M.A.N. theory would not be good for him as well...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think Anwar and PR will fine tune and eventually perfect the tactic of calling on the voters of Permatang Pauh to take, take, take, all the money, free food, transport provided to ferry them from their homes to the polling stations come polling day...then in the privacy of their booths...vote for Anwar as PKRM candidate! This trick was first used by the PBS in the Sabah state elections in 1985 and it explained why the PBS was able to defeat the BN then despite all the money and resourcs of the latter.

Anonymous said...

Not surprisingly, only 40% of the voters polled in Peninsular Malaysia said they were satisfied with Barisan Nasional while 57% expressed satisfaction with Pakatan Rakyat. And only 42% of respondents said they were happy with the Prime Minister's performance.: Merdeka Center Survey...More http://margeemar.blogspot.com