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Barisan National always says their alliance and coalition is a winning formula. This has always puzzled me. How can each race having its own component party constantly defending its own race a winning formula? How can this be a winning formula?

Who is UMNO defending the Malays against? Who are the enemies of the Malay Malaysians? Why do we have to have fiery speeches every Annual UMNO General Assembly at Putra World Trade Center?

Why does UMNO youth have to hold up the Kris with huge cheers from the ground and later be confronted by MCA youth? What is all these? Why are all these happening in the 1st place?

Who is MCA defending and protecting the Chinese Malaysians against? Who are the enemies of the Chinese Malaysians? Why do we need a party to fight for the rights of the Chinese Malaysians in the 1st place?
Who is MIC defending and protecting the Indian Malaysians against? Who are the enemies of the Indian Malaysians? Why do we need a party to fight for the rights of the Indian Malaysians in the 1st place?

Why does each race have to have "enemies"? If all of us does not have our enemies...then why and what are all these defending and protecting of own rights about?

UMNO was never meant to be such a race-based UMNO of today. In 1951, the founder and Bapa of UMNO, Dato’ Sir Onn Ja’afar had wanted to open up UMNO's membership to non-Malays - making it a truly race-free party. But understandably, the people at that time were not prepared for that. Their mentality did not prepare them for such a leader & such an ideology - which is so much ahead of their time. Onn Ja’afar was rebuffed and promptly resigned from the party to launch a new non-race based party called the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP). To his disappointment IMP did not gain momentum. So, UMNO, MCA and MIC, without Onn Ja’afar, were the way to go.

But Malaysia really has no excuse to still engage in race-based politics half a century later. Now is the year 2008. Not 1951. If Dato’ Sir Onn Ja’afar was ahead of his time, would we want us to be way behind of our time?

Deep down in their hearts, non-Malays want race-free politics yet they support BN. Why? Because they think they do not have any other options. They think their fellow Malay brothers and sisters want the exact opposite.

This is so wrong.

And that kind of mentality among non-Malays, prompting them to vote for BN time after time, is exactly the reason why BN wins time after time - even though BN is not what they really wanted.

We need to learn to vote for what we really want.

Look at Dato’ Sir Onn Ja’afar, Raja Petra, Ahirudin Attan (aka Rocky's Bru), and so many other fellow Malay brothers and sisters who are against race-based politics too. Read their writings & listen to their speeches to know how strongly they oppose race based politics.

We should oppose race based politics like BN. UMNO, MCA, MIC are all race based political parties. This brand of politics do more harm than good to a multiracial country like Malaysia. BN is a losing formula which has done much damage to tanah-air ku - please help stop the damage.

We should also oppose religion based politics like PAS. A secular-by-constitution country like Malaysia have no place for race-based and religion-based politics.

So we have only left Gerakan and DAP who are religion-free and race-free by constitution. Sadly, Gerakan, a multiracial political party, is endorsing BN’s race-based ideology.

You are not alone. The internet, which is the best medium for the voices of the people is shouting "say no to race-based politics" everywhere loud and clear. Don't be afraid to vote against BN. It need not be BN all the time. You have choices.

4m4m4m,
You're asking the right questions. And the answers are pretty obvious to all right-thinking citizens. Meanwhile, I understand PAS has been trying its best to review their image, knowing full well that their past stand has to be past tense.
If they want to stay relevant, if they want to move ahead, they need to rid themselves of the pure religion/race ideologies. Politics has been moving by leaps and bounds into cyber-sphere and where the younger set are less religion-bound and color-conscious.

When will the ceramah be confirmed whether it is on? Can you also provide who is going to be the speaker there? So that, we can pass the word around to friends and family.
Thanks.

Malaysiakini goes free for one week
Mar 4, 08 2:02pm

In view that the country is going to the polls on Saturday, Malaysiakini has decided to make its website free beginning today for the next seven days.

www.malaysiakini.com

Please consider playing some background music during the speech as it will make the speech more inspiring.

Also, if possible play some of the youtube video available online for the public to see, as you know some of them don't have internet access. ( eg: namewee video, since he is so much talked about, but do the people really know his work? )

And, just to let you know, no offence, its quite tiring and boring if the speech is continue from one speaker to another, so please help to live up the mood by inserting some music ( eg: just change video ) in between speaker. From what i see, everytime they play the "just change" video, its not complete...just like a few secs.

Pls consider it. Will be there this thursday regardless of police permit :)

http://thestar.com.my/election/story.asp?file=/2008/3/4/election2008/20080304175316&sec=election2008

EC cancels use of indelible ink

By RAPHAEL WONG

PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission has cancelled the use of indelible ink in polling this Saturday, citing public order and security reasons.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said following a meeting held Tuesday, the EC was obliged to make a firm and final decision to ensure the smooth conduct of the 12th general election.

He said provisions to the law needed if the ink was to be used still could not affect the constitutional right of a voter to cast his vote, even a person whose fingernail had been marked with indelible ink or one who refuses to have his or her fingernail marked this way.

"From a practical point of view, the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC's proposal meaningless and will not bring about a positive result, whilst having the potential to create misunderstanding as well as altercations and arguments at polling stations," he said.

The Federal Constitution gives you the right to vote, and a black mark on your fingernail should not bar you from exercising this right, he said.

Abdul Rashid said there were also reports made to the police confirming that certain irresponsible quarters had purchased indelible ink from abroad with the intention of creating confusion and suspicion as to the status of voters.

"The EC views these issues seriously as the election process and public order and security cannot be compromised," he said.

The use of indelible ink was first proposed last June to safeguard against multiple or phantom voting. Abdul Rashid then said that the system would be subject to amendments to the Election (Conduct of Election) Regulation 1981.

He said indelible ink had been chosen over other measures, such as a biometric system working off the MyKad (chip-based identity card carried by all Malaysians above the age of 12) because such such smartcard readers would have cost about RM60,000 each, and every voting stream would have to be equipped with one. Using such a system would have cost in excess of RM30mil. The commission bought about 47,000 bottles of the indelible ink, manufactured in India, for RM2mil.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/20080304165525/Article/index_html

PUTRAJAYA, Tues:

For security reasons and legal implications, indelible ink will not be used on polling day this Sunday. The Election Commission today decided not to proceed with its proposal to introduce the ink as the election process and public order and security could not be compromised.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the commission was obliged to make this firm and final decision in fulfilling its duties and discharging its responsibilities.

Relevant laws, including the Election Offences Act 1954, had to be amended if the ink is to be used, he told a packed Press conference at the EC headquarters. Also present were Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and EC secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor.

The EC, Rashid said, had agreed in principle to use the ink to mark the fingernail of a voter before a ballot paper is issued.

"According to our original proposal, a person whose fingernail has been marked with indelible ink shall not be issued with a ballot paper."

He cited Article 119 of the Federal Constitution that guaranteed the right of a registered voter to vote. "This means he cannot be denied the right to vote unless he is disqualified to vote under the law.

"Laws providing otherwise shall be ultra vires the Federal Constitution. This means a person whose fingernail has been marked with the ink or a person who refuses to have his fingernail marked cannot be denied the right to be issued with a ballot paper,” Rashid said.

"The provision of law that needs to be drafted, if the use of indelible ink is to be introduced, cannot affect the right of a voter to vote. Hence, the law to be drafted must make a provision to allow a voter whose fingernail appears to have been marked with indelible ink and a voter who refused to have his fingernail marked, to be issued with a ballot paper. Such a provision of the law will not serve the EC's original intention in introducing the use of the ink.”

From the practical point of view, Rashid said the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC's proposal, meaningless, and will not bring about a positive result. In fact, it had potential to create misunderstandings, altercations and arguments at polling stations.

Rashid said police reports also prompted the review of its proposal. "Results of investigations on the reports made to the police confirmed that certain irresponsible quarters had bought the ink from abroad."

Rashid said the EC would be writing to the government and political parties about its decision.

“There was no pressure from any political parties that led to the EC's decision,” he said. "We just cannot go against the constitution. Initially, the government also supported the use of the ink if this could further convince the people of a fair and smooth election. We thought we could just introduce it without realising it requires amendment to the law. I hope all parties will accept the decision with an open mind and not politicise it."

I just came from your ceramah at the Jelutong marketplace and I just want to tell you that it was mind-blowing. The ploy to withdraw the use of indelible ink and the change of voting venues only shows how low BN is willing to go to maintain their grip on power.

Godpseed, Jeff Ooi. The people of Penang are behind you.

Dear Jeff,

I have just read the news of cancelling the use of indelible ink by EC in the coming election.

I felt trully annoyed and angry over the decision made by EC over this issue ! ONE simple question comes directly to my mind when i read the news from THE STAR, “why at the first place EC decided to use this so called “indelible” ink as they claimed this ink can reduce the number of multiple and phantom votings….and NOW ….

[They said provisions to the law needed if the ink was to be used still could not affect the constitutional right of a voter to cast his vote, even a person whose fingernail had been marked with indelible ink or one who refuses to have his or her fingernail marked this way.

“From a practical point of view, the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC’s proposal meaningless and will not bring about a positive result, whilst having the potential to create misunderstanding as well as altercations and arguments at polling stations,” Abdul Rashid said.]

EC had spent 2 million just to import this indelible ink from India,and now they said they want to cancel the use of it ! Is this the justice they (EC) are talking about ? Is this the fair and clean Election they are mentioned ? What are they going to do with this “indelible ink” then ? Or have they actually imported this indelible ink from India? Or has the money just gone to “somewhere” else ???

Only they themselves will know . Or maybe only the BN-government people will know …..

sad sad sad…

Hi

You asked the supporters to wear red for tomorrow's Han Chiang's talk whereas Guan Eng asked the supporters to wear white (as reported in the Chinese newspaper today). This is rather confusing.

JEFF OOI says: Guan Eng called for white immediate after the Election Commission cancelled the plan to use indelible ink to prevent phantom voters. White denotes clean voting. Do come in white or red, there are both DAP colours.

For Han Chiang's talk, can i suggest that those who can speak Penang Hokkien, eg. yourself, please speak Hokkien. Though Guan Eng is a good speaker, his hokkien is different from PG hokkien. It's hard to fully understand what he tries to convey. He can always speaks in other languages.

Kudos to DAP for organizing another ceramah. Hopefully it will not rain. People, please do not get fool by propaganda's of 'certain people' that plan to reduce the turnout of the crowd. Everyone let us all turn up in full force to support DAP.

Jeff,

DAP and PKR must NOT be over confident of their chances in winning. So far both of you have worked very well to compliment each other. Don't blow your chances away at the last mile.

BN will throw everything (think ISA) at you when they are desperate. Let them believe they will win. Ask for sympathy votes to show Penang folks you people are still humble and not arrogant like them!

Go back to being the underdog.

jeff,

jgspot.com fully give u support!!!continue ur POWER in penang!!!

Just back from grand ceramah in Han Chiang, does anybody knows that there have some people collect the money due to parking infront of their house area. I was park at German english society area, & there was a guy collect the parking fee there. This should bring up to the state meeting that penang should permanently abolish to illegal carpark watcher's.