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Recently there has been repeated statements made by PM Najib Tun Razak and some BN leaders concerning their power grab in Perak and how the “other side” (read PR and Anwar) have started all these problems and defection hysteria as they desperately try to convince a wary nation to accept their pathetic script. As a Perakian, let me compare the September 16 and Najib's power grab in Perak and how each was intended to be or ended up to be. By Ibrahim Ahmad
September 16 was Anwar's ultimatum of seizing the federal government through massive defections of BN lawmakers. However, it has never materialized. BN and in particular PM Najib can't fault Anwar for courting BN MPs because Najib argued that defection is acceptable and even Churchill once defected, of course Najib knows little of what prompted Churchill to ditch his party. But we will forgive him knowing that he is a man who reads little. However, in Anwar's version, he sought power to better Malaysia and immediately implement pro-people policies, at least that’s what he claimed. He has detailed what he wanted to do once he ends up in Putrajaya. He ruled out the idea of getting all BN MPs since a number of them were tainted and only promised to seek the help of BN's conscientious MPs. Anwar also explained that he will use Parliament to unseat the BN PM and not make deals with anyone including the King behind the scenes since it was unconstitutional. He too made it clear that he will call for a General Election six months after he obtains power and in those six months he will reform state institutions like the EC, Police, Judiciary and other institutions and explain his political platform and polices in detail. Anwar also explained that he will reward poor but resource rich states like Terengganu, Sarawak and Sabah which contribute much to the national coffers but obtain little in return. He claimed that he wanted power to use it to replace a moribund leadership that was failing Malaysia. Therefore, had he succeeded, Malaysians would have never felt mortified because he used an orthodox method that's acceptable morally and democratically, albeit with many including his supporters and partners disapproving his plan. The fact is that Anwar was open about what he wanted and why he wanted. On the other hand, Najib sought the help of the 3 most scandal ridden politicians in Perak, a clear break from Anwar's promise to only seek BN's clean hands; the 3 of which two of them (Osman Jailu and Jamaluddin Mat Radzi) the Sultan of Perak felt weren't fit to lead his state and rejected their leadership. Hee of Jelepang was the greediest element of all Perak legislators and we know how she started to throw tantrums after she wasn't made an Exco mainly due to education handicap and later made noise when she wasn't given a Camry and an elegant office as Deputy Speaker. Some benefits she wasn't entitled to. Her rapacious greed was clear from day one and even DAP MPs like Jeff Ooi predicted as early as April of 2008 that she may ditch the party. Najib brought down a performing government that made tremendous gains in just ten months unlike Anwar's promise to replace the lackluster regime of Abdullah Badawi. Unlike Anwar who has informed Malaysians of what he intended to do in Putrajaya, Najib acted in order to save face after he has been thrashed in Permatang Pauh (PP) despite mounting the sleaziest campaign ever run in Malaysia's electoral history; after he has been forced to prevail upon Umno's Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir of Kulim to withdraw his petition against PKR's Zulkifli Nordin of Kulim. Though Sheikh Fadzir was assured of winning the petition, Najib realized that meeting PR and Anwar in Kulim after his disastrous outing in PP may be his waterloo. Then God intervened and we had the Kuala Terengganu by-election in Malay heartland. Najib spent mind boggling money in KT and despite that lost badly. It wasn't lost on all that Terengganu is a state under Umno with 2/3 majority. Therefore, Najib's single reason to act was to save face and show that despite his unacceptability to Malaysians, he could provide “leadership” and act against the opposition. His intentions were malevolent indeed. Also, Najib used unconstitutional methods to have the BN MB installed unlike Anwar's promise to use Parliament. This led to the demonization of the Perak Sultan who overnight became the most demonized Sultan. A stark contract from the ululations that he used to receive from Perakians and Malaysians. People started to hate him and lampoon him. They started unearthing his and his children's business interests and that's how many of us came to know about it. Najib knows that two of his brothers have business interests with some children of the Sultan. No need for names here. Malaysians know about it. Anwar promised a speedy economic plan and the implementation of his egalitarian Malaysian Economic Agenda (did you notice BN started to pilfer some of his platforms like the economic liberalization?). For Najib, it was to cripple Perak's economy and reverse a healthy trend under Nizar who has made some tremendous progress. MIDA's latest report about the failing economic situation in Perak is a testimony of the malevolent nature of Najib's leadership. As a Perakian, I ask myself, do we deserve the crippling of our economy simply to save the face of Najib who fears to face us? The people's PM, my foot! Anwar promised an election, Najib refuses elections but has the temerity to blame Anwar. Sir, Anwar was ready for an election in the event that he succeeded in his plan and it proved problematic. In your case, you are a poltroon who thinks that people' can't see through your shenanigans despite your nefarious Perak works failing. Thanks to you, Perak today is in tatters. Anwar didn't abduct BN legislators; neither did he entrap them. He didn't use state institutions to arm twist his way into Putrajaya. For you, you abducted elected legislators using the Special Branch and later compelled them to defect so that their corruption cases can be dropped. You easily forget that the BN media had lynched them and called for their sacking. That you settled for those vulnerable characters is a testimony of your leadership and vision, a far cry from your father who was known to collect the best brains in the nation. Tun Razak must be turning in his grave. Now that you 'succeeded' in toppling Mohd Nizar, what have you gained? These are what you gained:
1. You reduced once glorious Perak to a failed state. It will be your waterloo like Iraq was Bush’s waterloo. 2. You made Anwar more popular. Today, all Malaysians including your supporters know that you fear to face him in an election. But remember, you called PKR (Parti Kurang Relevan) in Lembah Pantai while campaigning against Nurul Izzah just one year ago. That you refuse to face that kurang relevan party (and its partners) is ironical indeed. Spare me “BN doesn’t fear elections” petty joke. Ask my 5 year old son and he will tell you that you fear elections. 3. You made Mohd Nizar an iconic figure. From an obscure person not known to Malaysians, today he is assured of Pakatan's leadership post Anwar and he will be the PM in the future insha Allah, thanks all to you. PR's greatest weakness was Anwar since he was its father figure and the only acceptable face to all parties. Because of you, we have Nizar who happens to be more popular than Anwar in some cases. So if you think PR will collapse if you use Lingam-appointed judges against Anwar in your sodomy manufactured sleazy work, then we have Nizar who will bury you for good. 4. Mahathir's hateful crusade against Abdullah has fallen flat. He argued that once Najib takes over, Malaysians will troop to BN. Well, today Mahathir is saying BN (under you) will lose in Perak and lost Bukit Gantang with a bigger margin. Exactly in May last year, he argued (in The Sun) that BN will reclaim Perak in an election if Abdullah Badawi is not the PM. His hypocrisy and your moribund leadership is making Badawi remembered positively. 5. You made many Malaysians hate the Royalty and you are solely responsible for the slide it has taken in its reputation and history will judge you harshly. You try to hide behind the Sultan's name. Najib, Perakians know that you fear Anwar Ibrahim and Mohd Nizar, so stop the crap of Sultan this, Sultan that. 6. You united Pakatan supporters and also made many fence-sitters be pro-PR. It was you who brought Karpal and Hadi Awang to Bukit Gantang. 7. You lost the people's goodwill and your spin about 1 Malaysia, Performance now (and other jokes like the People's PM) mantra down the drain. You released many ISA detainees but the people are laughing at you rather than cheering your moves. Do you know why? Perak! 8. You have given PR enough ammunition to use against you in any by-election and in the next general elections. Oh, Mahathir said the people “will have short memories.” He would have to know that no society accepts cruelty as a rule (Ali Ibn Abi Talib [ra]). Ask him also.
Using thugs against our elected leaders in hallowed precincts like Parliament is not what we will forget. Dividing the nation and crippling our state's economy is not what we will forget. Using state institutions to achieve personal goals is not what we will forget. Abducting elected legislators is not what we will forget. Fanning the flames of tribal and race rancour in order to sustain few aristocrats in power at the expense of the nation is not what we will forget.
If we will forget, we would have forgotten Badawi's promises in 2004. When he failed, we sent him packing. That fate awaits you. You will be the Gerald Ford of Malaysia. Unelected leader who ruled for a while and when he sought a mandate to rule, the people rejected him. You will live with the ignominy of bringing down Umno and BN and being a PM who never received a mandate from his people even in a by-election. 9. You lost all the fence sitters to PR. Majority of the voters are fence-sitters. Now that they know what you are capable of in your personal sadism, they won't mortgage the nation in order to satisfy you. The Abdullah Badawi is weak jokes are laid bare. It was all about honesty and God fearing leadership. We gave him a sweeping mandate to lead us to Canaan and heal the nation after Mahathir's repressive 22 years. But he slept. Now it is clear that you won't subdue the nation through hard tactics because the people won't budge. It is clear that you will only win if you are honest and pro-people, but you aren't. So Umno people know that their time is up because Malaysians have made up their minds. Ketuanan Melayu, the Royalty, Anwar's sodomy that you personally manufactured and many other scare tactics won't work. The only thing that will work is to vote against Umno and how satisfying that will be. Now you know that Malaysians won't accept spin. We are looking for honest answers. Catchy phrases and rallying calls won't help you. You can manufacture millions of them and they won't work. But honesty will work.
Ibrahim Ahmad,
Ipoh, Perak
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