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this blatant misuse of public money to fund a political party's election machinery is appalling and unacceptable. this practice has been going on for so long, but yet the rakyat do not see the vileness of such actions. people just seem to think that "as long as i benefit, who cares?" this is so disappointing. open your eyes people!! think big! when this happens in someone else's constituency, your money will be channeled there instead!!

Folks

Say what you like, BN got their strategy of winning elections right on the money... and win again.

One can it bribery etc, but that is realpolitik.

You got to take your hat off to BN.

As for DAP ? Lim Guan Eng gloats at BN's success by saying that the Machap people won even if DAP lost. That's is the most disgraceful comment from an opposition party.

It confirms what everybody now is saying: DAP does not know how or want to win election or win govt.

Compare that to voters in US and the Palestinian Territory: US voters threw out the Republicans of Congress for the big picture problem of the Iraq against local issues. The Palestinian threw out Fatah because of corruption at the highest level.

And here we have an opposition party praising voters for small-picture mentality.

One would think that Machap would be winners by making the BN, being in Govt, to pave the roads, and install new street lamps etc etc and at the same time send a message to MCA/BN, that their performance in managing the country is still below expectations.. and vote for the Opposition.

I wouldn't begrudge the Machap voters for getting the goodies,(after all, they are taxpayers money, not the money of MCA/UMNO/MI), but I certainly ashamed by the celebration of DAP for losing the election to MCA with the studid comment that the voters are winners.

You only reinforce voters to keep on voting for political parties who are in Govt. DAP might as well wrap up and call it a day.

The following satirica posting best encapsulate the impotence of DAP in 21st century politics of malaysia:

http://politics101malaysia.blogsome.com/2007/02/02/the-real-meaning-of-the-rocket-2/#more-1169

Jeff,
There was nearly one for Tanah Rata but that assemblyman escaped being in a reliable Honda CRV where the air bags worked and were deployed. More details & pictures of his narrow escape at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-pics-mca-state-assemblyman-chong.html
F& H,
Where is the comparison of the sophisticated voters in US with our rural voters here? The DAP did tried all the tricks in the books and did managed to reduce the majority by a credible 481 votes. What more do you expect? There was an increase of votes (slightly more than 2% of the total votes) to the opposition. This is not insignificant in a BN stronghold like Machap. DAP gotten only 18% of the votes in 2004. It now obtains 20%
Also on the plus side, this is the first by-election since 2004 where the opposition actually improved on its performance. More details of the Machap postmortem and useful lessons at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/04/more-pics-bn-retains-machap-seat-by.html

Promises! Promises! Empty promises!

Machap folks had made their choice. Lets hope They fulfill their promises.

Going by the promises made during the last GE, I am doubtful.

mwt

The job of opposition parties is to educate and make our rural voters TO BE sophisticated voters.

Palestinian voters are as good and as smart as our rural chinese voters.(And I think they are more than smart, they have to literally survive in their hostile enviroment compared to our rural chinese voters).

The Palestinians vote with their lives, not just for their livelihood being at stake, as malaysian chinese voters do. Despite knowing that Fatah had the support of Israel and US, the brave Palestinian people said enough is enough of 20 years of corruption and not satisfied with the country going no where but downwards, they shifted camp en-bloc and voted in Hamas.

That is gutsy..and they know that there was going to be a big price to pay.. and they were to pay it and willing to take the sacrifice for the bigger good and for the sake of the country as a whole.

But what did our Opposition Party, the loser do and say after losing the election? Lim Guan Eng smiles broadly, feeling contented with the loss and feeling at the top of the world because BN outsmarted DAP with political bribery to win votes and the election.

A loss is a loss. Whataever excuse or reason you want to give. In an election, you go out to TRY TO WIN. Not to take the second price.

If DAP is contented with Govt just building roads and installing street lamps and building community halls, against the greater interest of the nation, citizenship rights under the Federal Consitution, education, race-based prejudices, high leve corruption, then it IS true, as the perception is now slowing seeping into the general psyche of chinese voters in the country now, that DAP nothing more than a SMALL-PICTURE PARTY.

The DAP leaders only spew rhetorics of big picture issues in Parliament to gain clap-trap attention, that's about all.

And to think that the Sec. Gen of DAP to feel happy for losing by saying the people won.. that is the most stupid comment I have ever heard coming from an Opposition Party. I would have thought that a comment like that is a script written by the WINNING POLITICAL PARTY.

Machap,
Do it AGAIN!
lolx!

Wow, we should all feel a lot better with NOT "stupid" people like F&H around.

"Palestinian voters are as good and as smart as our rural chinese voters.(And I think they are more than smart, they have to literally survive in their hostile enviroment compared to our rural chinese voters).

The Palestinians vote with their lives, not just for their livelihood being at stake, as malaysian chinese voters do" Hmm, I suppose one can make it out to be the DAP's fault that Malaysian Chinese voters vote with their livelihood in mind.

"The DAP leaders only spew rhetorics of big picture issues in Parliament to gain clap-trap attention, that's about all." Yes, I suppose the DAP should just shut up and collect their paychecks. Afterall, what good does all that noise they make in Parliament do? Not that smart people like F&H are appreciative, especially when the voters dont feel incensed enough to do something about the issues they raise. Yup, absolutely useless!!!

By the way, F&H, can you tell us FRANKLY what you think the opposition of this country should and CAN do? And whilst you are at it, would you also tells us HONESTLY what you have done to help the opposition parties do what you think, and what have you done to OPPOSE the government in your own little way, (of course we wouldn't expect you to risk going behind bars and have very little income, etc like the "stupid" DAP types), and what you have done to "educate" the rural voters (or any voters for that matter) so that they will "vote with their lives" which by the way I am trust you HONESTLY do?

"And to think that the Sec. Gen of DAP to feel happy for losing by saying the people won.." Hmm, FRANKLY, I am not sure who is more stupid, the DAP SG for saying what he said (the alternative of course would have been for the DAP SG to say that the voters were bribe takers, the BN were corrupt politicians, etc, but oops, some like F&H might say that is sour grapes and typical losers' rant) OR one who thinks that the DAP is "happy" to have lost?

F&H, I believe you are a realistic person, because you are "Frank" and "Honest". But I see that you actually live in imaginary world with strong sense of winning. You can't accept the defeat and you will use all ways to claim the victory, at ALL cost. And THAT is stupid. You better look for Ghandi's words (First they ignore you; then they laugh at you; then they fight you; And you win).

Vote with lives? I don't want Malaysia to become like Southern Thai.

Watch your emotion / behavior. It is a sign of desperation. If you used to like DAP and now hate it, that's devil in your mind at work. Good luck, and don't destroy Malaysia, please.

YES..we should have by elections every month.

In no time...every small little town will have new playgrounds, new roads, new dewan, new schools,,,.everything a small town can only dream of if their wakil rakyat is alive.

My question is... do the wakil rakyat need to die before there is development?

kimmy:

Tell me, how on earth will we ever topple the government and see some real reform in our country as long as all the opposition does is whinge and complain about things like Pak Lah's new jet, or flying to Perth to open a nasi kandar restaurant while Johor residents suffer? You might win a few urban middle class votes - but those are the votes that don't matter.

The votes that matter are those in the rural areas, and to a lesser extent, the votes of working class urbanites. These people (and even a lot of middle class people) only care about bread and butter issues.

Promise voters that you will build better schools, hire better teachers, promote smarter bureaucrats, create more opportunities, and you will succeed. Fighting BN on governance issues is simply fighting a losing cause:

http://www.infernalramblings.com/articles/Malaysian_Politics/261/

Small town folks have gratitude, and the BN played that to the hilt. You don't expect them to take the "goodies" and vote the opposition. Next time, try to work through that strategy... if you can.

I think the result is not too bad. Look 500 votes swing to opposition compare to the last election is a fair result. The folks there are simple and content with local issues so not sure how much you can swing with other issues. We're getting there so watch out Ijok. Maybe now PM has to be there.

patriotic1994

You got me wrong. We all know that DAP is going to one hell of a tough time winning. For DAP to win in machap is short of a miracle.

But that is not the point. It is the stupid statement of Lim Guan Eng after losing the election.

Face it. That is not the way to respond to a losing situation. You don't need to be a political genius to know to say the proper thing after losing an election.

Kimmy - come out of your partisan politics blinkers. If the way you argue my points, and if you had been a campaign adviser to DAP, no wonder DAP lost and possibly, your way of thinking contributes to the comments of Lim Guan Eng.

MCA is having a great time knowing that DAP, as an Opposition Party, is also celebrating BN/MCA win.

The "direction' of DAP's rocket logo should now face downwards istead of upwards.

"Kimmy - come out of your partisan politics blinkers. If the way you argue my points, and if you had been a campaign adviser to DAP, no wonder DAP lost and possibly, your way of thinking contributes to the comments of Lim Guan Eng." Sorry to dissapoint you, but I do not consider myself "smart" enough to advise LGE or the DAP. Maybe you can ask the Oxford guy that just joined them. But hey, looks like the self professed old guy's "smart" way of FRANKLY and HONESTLY addressing my questions is to actually avoid them and try to whack the questioner instead. Yeah, I can see that working rather well in Malaysia, just like the way the government address issues!

At least the self (blog) promoting "smart" young guy like johnleemk does suggest a way for the DAP to win: "Promise voters that you will build better schools, hire better teachers, promote smarter bureaucrats, create more opportunities, and you will succeed." Yup, just make promises, and by the way that is what the BN does and look, they have won every election! You cant beat history right? I mean, just look at what Pak Lah promised during the last elections. Who cares about MAKING GOOD on the promises?

After reading this posting, I too have a suggestion for the DAP: recruit "smart" people like F&H and johnleemk. Sure win one! But unfortunately I doubt such "smart" people will join the DAP or any opposition party. After all the opposition parties only whinge about irrelevant and unimportant things like corruption and governance.

F&H, I remember I read an article by RPK about election history. I am no expert. Just to share what I have found,

http://www.malaysia-today.net/blog2006/holds.php?itemid=2583

Also, not to say DAP should chicken out the fight. But I also not to support using force. As RPK pointed out, it is the System itself having problem and the PEOPLE who vote.

BTW, if the DAP is as strong as you imagine it should be, how far can they go in this country under such constraint?

F&H, after some thought, I think I see your point. I did feel surprise for Guan Eng to write that article at the beginning. But when I realize the type of person he is, I understand that's what he will do. What DAP need is the right people to do the right job.

I compare this to Engineer and Sales. The Engineers only focus in doing the job right, be pure and fair. Whereas for Sales, they have to do ALL it takes to sell their products and get customers. The competition is fierce. Dirty tricks is common. And it is very hard to find a person that has both characteristics. May be Tun Mahathir is the only one...

Guan Eng is like Engineer. Kit Siang is like Sales, but he is old, so not count. And I think the entire DAP is like a Factory, no Sales! OK, this is only my current view of the situation. I could be wrong. Time will tell. And your inputs will help me to see and learn more.

So far I have a thought for DAP, to revamp itself, after what I saw from the links that critics the DAP logo...

First DAP should create two teams. One team focus in "Engineering" work, to define a good Governance system that is Pure and Uncorruptible as promised by its logo. The other team focus in "Sales". They are basically seeing people and GET VOTE. They must be agressive people, like you, F&H. This team basically can play Politics well.

Combining such good Governance and agreesive Politics, I think DAP will win everybody's heart because people will know a government under DAP's hand is Pure and Uncorruptible, and their ADUN is agreesive, can show the Leadership quality.

DAP is a political party and thus it must know how to sell itself to people using all tricks that may consider Unpure or Corrupt by party. Otherwise DAP is just a charity organization.

I may be wrong. Hope to learn more...

patriotic1994

I really like your analogy of Sales, Engineering and the Factory.

Very apt!! You must be a strategic planner in a private sector to come out with this great example.

I am in full agreement with you on DAP. It requires faily major overhaul in the attitudes and tactics of the leadership.

In the early days, they come across as genuine, refreshing etc.

Now, after two decades of more of the same, DAP and the leadership come across to voters as stale and tiresome, like water stored in a container that had never been replaced. And you know how it tastes!!

But, you need to bring people like KIMMY, idealistic, and very concerned on the fate of Malaysia and the underdogs of the world, but seems to be overwhelmed by it all, and run out of ideas.

KIMMY would be good to be in the Engineering Department DAP and with some exposure, KIMMY will be a good candidate as the Team Leader of the Sales Dept of DAP.

But you need to send people like Lim Guan Eng and those tiresome leaders to the "brain laundrymat" to get a fresh start for the DAP Factory

My dear Kimmy

If you think my criticism of DAP (all done in good faith for the sake of the party and democracy in the country) is too acidic and hard to swallow, try this( read below or clik on the link) fo

My dear Kimmy and ALL DAP Supporters and sympathesizer

If you think my criticism of DAP (all done in good faith for the sake of the party and democracy in the country) is too acidic and hard to swallow, try this( read below or click on the link) for a mouthful what are said below on Raja Petra's "Malaysia-TodaY"

------
http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/index.php?itemid=3905

Although DAP professes multiracial socialist politics as their theme, in reality, nothing multiracial about their approach.

The mainstay of DAP leadership had always been Chinese and so far, they have had no policy as a “Malaysian multiracial party”.

For example, DAP do not have a policy how to deal with the under development state of the Malays, being the 60% of the population.

No mention about how many Malays still require affirmative action on education, to alleviate their socio-economic woes.

Instead, DAP have been seen as championing Chinese chauvinistic agenda like the vernacular school system, which many felt is the root of the digression in any national integration agenda.

So how could DAP calls itself “multiracial and champion of socialism” if they have no specific agenda or plan to address the needs of the Malays, being 60% of the population?

On top that, DAP has constantly tried to challenge the ‘Special Malay Rights’ enshrined under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

DAP systematically tried to ‘rudely’ defy a social contract agreed by all parties during the negotiations of independence.

Many good DAP leaders fizzled out and faded away, even before they could complete their service to the rakyat.

Why DAP stalwarts like Lee Lam Thye, Dr Kua Kia Soong, Kerk Kim Hock, Hu Sepang, Wee Choo Keong, Lee Ban Chien, Ronnie Liu, S K Soong, Teoh Teik Huat, Thing Chiek Ming, Lim Fui Ming, Fan Teng Yew and Fung Ket Wing no longer in the mainstream menu of the party?

Why is it back to the Father, the Son and the dolly darling Daughter in law, over and over again?

It only shows that DAP have been an avenue for this family to remain in power, indefinitely.

Some might even say, it’s a revenue model for the family.

Lim Kit Siang, who have been in direct control and power of the DAP since 1969 as the Secretary General, has been the Opposition Leader for almost 30 years (with the exception of 1999-2004, where Hj. Hadi Awang, PAS president assumed the position).

Notably, Lim Kit Siang does not attack or take swipes againt the Prime Minister and his family.

It is so apparent. These are the abusive, opulence and excesses that so many talked about.

So why is it that these people (Lim and family) never attack nor criticize the PM, the Son and the Son-In-Law?

(Is it because they want to be like the PAP Dynasty, Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Hsien Yang and something Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Kamaluddin Abdullah and Khairy Jamaluddin is trying to emulate?)

DAP go around lambasting BN being a corrupt Government lead by corrupt leaders.

Lets see how the DAP leaders themselves fair.

Ask where did the monies collected for the “Free Lim Guan Eng” campaign went to?

Why was it Lim Kit Siang instructed the monies collected be banked into Lim Guan Eng’s personal account and NOT party’s, even though monies were on raised on DAP platform?

No separation between Lim Kit Siang & Son Dynasty Esq. and party?

Isn’t that corruption?

In reality, DAP is actually nothing more than an ultra long 40 years straight running Chinese opera called “Father, Son and the dolly Daughter in law ONLY!” and its getting very stale.

Constantly, Lim Kit Siang ‘begged’ the support of the Chinese, every time DAP face General Elections. Since 1986, too many ‘Tanjong’ projects launched (to wrestle Pulau Pinang from BN) and yet no results.

Just to illustrate the tyranny of Lim Kit Siang, throughout the campaign for the ‘Tanjong III’ project during the 10th General Elections of April 1995, he potrayed himself as the “Robocop”!

Its seems there are no measurement of deliverables to the empty promises and failed attempts of the DAP under Lim Kit Siang & Son Dynasty Esq

F&H, I think you got some of the ideas wrong about DAP. DAP is not BN. It does not have to be multiracial. Just like UMNO, it is Malay based. The "BN" is a combination of many small parties together, think of it like joining up DAP, PAS, Keadilan and so on.

You can say we should have NBN (new BN) that consist of all those Opposition parties. Just analogy.

To ask DAP to become like what you want, it amount to impossible and unthinkable.

Next is the danger of Politics. I am not sure your critics of DAP family is true or not, but I can imagine it can be true, because this is Politics in nature. Same to UMNO and many other parties. Whoever win, we (Rakyat) lose.

Now, how to fix that problem?

I learned about US system and I found that they got some good points to learn.

1. US realize that they cannot trust the party who win the election to form the goverment. This is because it is politically controlled. And this is the loophole of the Democracy (buy vote, etc).

2. Thus US system created two more entities that is NOT politically controlled: President and Judges. These are PEOPLE. They are selected by PEOPLE directly.

3. Then the complete control of the country is on the hand of Parliment, President and Judges. The power is splited into 3 hands. 3 being odd number and it won't cause deadlock when making decision (Judge is 9 people, if I not mistaken).

I think their system is marvalous. We should have something similar for Malaysia.

So you can see, they have abolished the idea of having party that win election to form government. They know it is defect.

So no point to argue DAP is as corrupt as UMNO and the like. In fact, ALL PARTIES tends to be like that. They need power. It is conflict in nature.

But vote the Opposition and put them into the Parliment so that at least it created the conflict and make the Absolute Power to think thrice before doing something stupid.

Until then... we wait for ALL-BLOGS to brainstorm a NEW Governance system for Malaysia that will not based on Races to form the government and propose that to change. I just quote ALL-BLOGS simply because I think we can trust them to design it, because they are more intellectual than those MP (Monkey Parliment).

patriotic1994

That piece about I posted was not written be me.