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The results are conclusive: Anwar had won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election. He obtained 31,195 votes, while BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah received 15,524 votes, and Akim candidate Hanafi Hamat had only 92 votes.
DPM Najib while offering an insincere cursory congratulations to Anwar goes on to make statements that confirm what the cynics have been saying all along,that he is "consistently inconsistent" NST quoted him saying : "There was not much difference in the number of votes garnered by Anwar when compared with that won by his wife (Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) in March. UMNO official website quoted him saying this : "Walaupun pada awalnya BN menjangkakan dapat mengurangkan jumlah majoriti undi PKR, bagaimanapun ia gagal berikutan sentimen penduduk Permatang Pauh terhadap parti itu masih kuat" (Though earlier BN predicted we would be able to reduce PKR's majority, we failed as the sentiments of the Permatang Pauh voters for the Party was too strong) Other than making contradictory statements, he shows no grace in defeat at all, The canditate himself Arif Shah was no picture of grace either -saying,“They were probably attracted to the opposition’s propaganda. But for me, it’s business as usual.” (Somebody please tell him that Penang is under pakatan rule which actually makes BN the opposition) Anwar, on the other hand had this to say, as quoted on Malaysiakini website...
"I must thank him (Najib) for the congratulatory remark. This should be considered as a major lesson that in any election or by-election, all issues (discussed in the campaign) must be on the (political) agenda and issues of politics.
"(They have to) stop the malicious and scurrilous attack or racist remark in the campaign. I thank him for his kind word and I would ask us - both BN and PKR - to move forward and discuss on the national reform agenda," Can you see the huge difference in the tone of their statements ? On DPM Najib's Statement that he will conduct a post mortem to determine BN losses as it is too early to tell, let me just say that there was no way in hades BN could have won this by-election. However the following are the 7 factors many ordinary citizens like me feel could have prevented BN from even reducing PKR's majority :- 1) Racist style of campaigning notably - using Arif's ability to converse in chinese dialects and Arif distastefully declaring himself the monkey God, insultingly offering scrap metal dealership to Indian constituents, using Lee Chong Wei as an example that the government does not discriminate against the chinese in sport and scaring the Malays that Anwar would sell out their rights. While BN leadership (esp UMNO leaders) did not rebuke those who made derogatory remarks like "babi balik cina", the infamous "Indian Snake"remark by Hamidah Osman in parliament and the recent racist remaks against Indian students by a teacher. 2) Bringing in so-called big guns that are disliked by the people like Wira Ali Rustam, Khairy and Samy Velu. 3) Questionable coincidences - Anwar being charged shortly after he announces his decision to contest, Saiful swearing on the Quran and the MSM carrying it as headline news 1 day before nomination, Lee Chong Wei "coincidentally" posing with Arif Shah agaist the backdrop of election banners. 4) Nallakaruppan & Ezam - one bragged he has 5 recordings and the other has 6 boxes full of evidence, neither produced any evidence but they went ahead with their smear campaign against Anwar anyway. 5) Saiful & the sodomy smear campaign - the voters not to mention the whole nation disgusted with his actions that were aired over and over again over primetime TV, the footage was played over and over again at Permatang Pauh at BN ceramahs, not to mention well known personalities taking distateful potshots and challenging Anwar to swear on the Quran as well when he has stated time and again his reason for not doing so. This was done despite opinion polls from merdeka center clearly indicating that most people did not belive the allegations. 6) Offering development funds -This is especially insulting after the Federal Government drastically cut funding to Penang despite Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's many appeals, after the Federal government reneged on its pledges after GE12 and not rebuking certain Penang Umno factions for asking the Government to punish the voters, as they say silence is often taken as a sign of complicity, thus this campaign strategy backfired. 7) Campaign drive - While Anwar campaigned on grounds of justice, equality and an end to corrupt practices, the BN campaign was largely seen as a "smear Anwar campaign". Najib was also quoted on UMNO's website saying "The sodomy issue is more relevant at the national level but not in Permatang Pauh". Is he trying to say that the issue did not have the desired effect in the by-election, thereby admitting culpability to dirty politicking? - while also infering that Anwars national image linked to the scandal will prevent him from forming the federal government? Nothing can be further than the truth.Permatang Pauh with 70% Malay, 25% Chinese and 6% Indian ethnic makeup almost mimics macro ethnic national make up. I am willing to wager that if snap polls are called tommorow the BN government will collapse like a house of cards. The real fear is not Anwar changing the government via crossovers of BN MPs, the real worry is UMNO playing racist politics to the hilt when they are out of power, as they have shown time and again to be sore losers. My appeal to all citizens is not to become pawns of politicians who lack talent but make up for it by stoking dangerous racist sentiments. - Vijay Kumar Murugavell
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The Blogs 
Setting up Perak Excoses using the dirties method and accusing them of bribery; (and collaborating with ACA of course)
