AFP: Anwar accuses government of postal vote fraud

 

Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Sunday accused the government of perpetuating postal vote fraud as citizens prepare to cast their ballots on March 8.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition government, which has led the country since independence, is expected to win the poll but lose more seats amid protests and rising prices.

However, reports of voting irregularities have cast doubt on whether the upcoming polls will be fair.

“(We) are profoundly disappointed, though not surprised, by the latest evidence of postal voting fraud likely to be perpetuated during the upcoming elections,” Anwar told AFP.

“The untransparent process of postal votes will result in seats won by opposition candidates being stolen by the ruling coalition in a blatantly fraudulent manner,” he added.

Postal voting is presently restricted to military troops, policemen and teachers who are based far away from their constituencies.

Anwar’s comments come as his party colleague Ibrahim Yaacob, who is a candidate for a parliamentary seat in the capital, gave reporters the names of postal voters they say were issued with two ballot sheets.

“I was there when the Election Commission (EC) was packing voter kits for postal votes on Saturday and we spotted at least six people with the same identification card number having two ballots each,” Yaacob said.

“This is voting fraud as each postal voter should have only one vote,” he added.

Electoral reform activists say a number of seats that the opposition would win could be decided by postal votes and that those casting postal votes do not have the freedom to choose the candidate they want.

Activists from the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) say each ballot is also attached to a letter identifying the voter along with the voting slip serial number, so it would be easy to trace who voted for the opposition.

The EC, which maintains the electoral rolls and administers postal voting, could not be reached for comment.

It has repeatedly denied accusations that it is in league with the BN to rig the process so the ruling coalition gets extra votes.

AFP: Anwar accuses government of postal vote fraud

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Govt may have not done enough for ethnic-Indians, says Vellu

 

Seeking re-election in the upcoming polls, Malaysia’s only ethnic-Indian minister, who faced flak for opposing protests by the community against alleged marginalisation, has now admitted that the government may not have done enough for them.
Samy Vellu, whose Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition led by Premier Abdullah Badawi, said ethnic Indians were facing lack of education opportunities, unemployment and inadequate housing facilities leading to sprouting of illegal urban squatters as well as low literacy level.
Vellu, who is facing accusations of not doing enough for the community and criticism for running down the unprecedented street protests led by Hindu Right Action Force, said he wanted more opportunities for ethnic Indians in all fields.
“This is what we have been asking the government, and the government has been accommodative, although I must say that it may not be enough. The government has promised to do more for the Indians. We are confident,” he told the New Straits Times.
Vellu is contesting from his traditional seat for the seventh time in the March 8 poll though there was some speculation that the ruling alliance wanted to dump him in the wake of the demonstrations since November.
The minister said the progress of ethnic Indians in Malaysia, who have migrated from rural to urban areas, is being impeded by a host of social ills like “alcoholism, increasing school dropout rate and high crime rate”.
Vellu’s comments came amid an advertisement blitz by his MIC asking ethnic Indians to vote for the party. Leading dailies everyday carry full page ads boasting about MIC’s “strong and proven track record for delivery”.
The ads claimed that MIC understood the community’s challenges in the coming years and promised to create “world class Tamil schools.”
Vellu admitted that there was a failure at the implementation level which has resulted in the ineffectiveness of current delivery mechanisms.
“We tell Malaysian Indians that there is no alternative to the MIC and any replacement by opposition parties will not in any way protect the interests or legitimate rights of Malaysian Indians,” the MIC president said.
In 62 parliamentary and 130 state seats, Indians comprise 10 per cent or more of the registered voters.
Asked what the MIC had done to address the pressing issues listed out by Vellu, the minister claimed that the party had “taken the burden on itself and had created a new outlook to establish an educated Indian community”.
He said in the last 20 years, MIC had rebuilt almost 100 schools with 30 million ringit (Rs 30 crore) in grants from the government and an additional 7 million ringgit raised by the MIC.

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Badawi: ‘Malaysia Is One Nation’

 

Prime Minister Badawi warns against those who would seek to divide Malaysia along racial and religious lines
On Saturday, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, campaigning in Terengganu, warned voters to resist those trying to sow division and disunity in the country by splitting Malaysians along racial and religious lines.
“We solve problems through unity and friendship. Malaysia is one nation with one people. Our strength lies in our unity and is drawn from our determination to involve Malaysians from all religious and ethnic backgrounds in the progress and prosperity of our nation,” Prime Minister Badawi said.
“Those who wish to encourage division in this election, for their own narrow gain, are playing a dangerous political game,” he added.
“Our economy, security, prosperity, society and democracy will all suffer if we allow politics to divide us as a people, and as a nation, one from another.
“I urge all Malaysians to resist those trying to use these elections to sow fear, division and disunity amongst our people by splitting our country along racial and religions lines. There is no doubt those who believe they can gain politically from such divisions will use any means possible, every available opportunity, to try to drive a wedge between us. I believe Malaysians will not fall for their divisive campaigns,” Mr. Badawi said.
“Let us celebrate our diversity as a nation and embrace the unity between all religions and all ethnic groups which marks Malaysia out as a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-party democracy. And let us keep moving forward together,” said Mr. Badawi.
In contrast to those who seek division, Mr. Badawi’s government has sought to achieve greater unity across Malaysia including: — Guaranteeing the right to worship for all Malaysians; — Establishing guidelines to ensure that land is reserved for places of worship for all communities in newly developed areas; — Encouraging inter-faith understanding through forums such as the National Unity Advisory Panel; — Promoting inter-ethnic unity through the School Integration Programme and National Service Training Programme.
The governing coalition, (Barisan Nasional), which Mr. Badawi leads, is committed in its election manifesto to “enhance appreciation for diverse cultures among Malaysia’s multi-ethnic people” as well as increasing dialogue on inter-faith issues. The manifesto also includes commitments to build a better understanding of Islam between Muslims and non-Muslims, expand the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil in the national schools and increase ethnic diversity in the public sector.
Mr. Badawi is back campaigning in his home state of Penang today after a two-day stop in the East Coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu. He is scheduled to attend a dinner with the Indian community later tonight.

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They supported BN in the past but now …

 

ALL her life, she has supported the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN). But this year, Madam Siti Hajar Awang, 78, and her family find themselves at acrossroads.

For the first time, they find themselves drawn to the words of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

‘From what we hear, there is an allocation of funds for our district for upgrading and other uses, but it doesn’t seem to reach the ground,’ said her grandson, MrSazali Ramli, 25, mentioning insufficient road lights and unfinished roads in the area as examples.

Said Madam Siti Hajar, who lives in a 60-year-old wooden house with two children and three grandchildren in Pulau Betong, Balik Pulau, Penang: ‘I can’t decide who to vote for this year.’

As with many other villagers, her main concern is the steep rise in living costs.

She and her daughter, MadamSiti RamahAbu Hassan, 60, make traditional Malay kueh (cakes) that they sell to a shop.

Said Madam Siti Hajar: ‘The prices of oil, flour, eggs and sugar have all increased. It used to cost RM20 ($9) a day to make the kueh, but now, it costs RM30.

‘Sometimes, we need to put in more effort and make more kueh to earn more money.’

They have also struggled to control their monthly household expenses, which have risen from RM450 a year ago to RM600 now.

Madam Siti Hajar said their house – for which they pay annual rent of RM120 – needed some renovation.

Her other grandson, MrHaris Idris, 25, is also uncertain who to vote for.

Like Mr Sazali, Mr Haris missed registering for the 2004 elections and will be voting for the first time.

Mr Sazali said: ‘We are quite excited that we are able to get involved this time and can vote.’

‘MORE CAN BE DONE’

Mr Haris felt that more could be done to improve their lives.

‘For youngsters like us, we don’t have a proper place to play ball, for example.’

They have been roped in to put up flags and posters for BN, but are doing it mostly for the small stipend that they get.

Like many young men in their kampung, the cousins work in the factories owned by multinational companies in Bayan Lepas.

They travel on motorcycles and have been affected by the rising fuel costs.

Mr Sazali said that although they like BN as a party, they feel the leadership has been ineffective.

‘The PM has been slow in stimulating the economy. Factories have been closing down,’ he said.

But Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied that foreign investor confidence in Penang has eroded.

He said the state’s economy will instead be enhanced further under the Northern Corridor Economic Region project.

But the family is not quite convinced.

‘Our state assemblyman seems to appear only when the elections are round the corner,’ said Mr Sazali.

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Malaysia government’s silent election fear is voter apathy – The China Post

 

Malaysia’s ruling coalition is braced for a possible protest vote at elections next weekend, but the word on the street is that apathy may be the real threat.

Campaigning for the March 8 polls has so far focused on clear signs of discontent in the minority ethnic Indian and Chinese communities with the coalition’s policies on race and religion.

The coalition, which has governed for five decades, needs its core supporters in the ethnic Malay majority to turn out in force to counter such a backlash, but senior insiders worry that many Malays may stay at home instead.

“I’m concerned that even those who have registered to vote seem doubtful whether they would go out to vote,” former deputy premier Musa Hitam said in an interview in the New Sunday Times.

“Some are not happy with the government, yet don’t feel they should come out and vote against the government. Some say they are simply fed up with politics…and some are saying ‘Well, whether we vote or not, they are going to win for sure.’”

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi insists the Malays will turn out to vote, and the pro-government Sunday Star newspaper carried a survey on Sunday predicting a record turnout, but voter apathy remains a concern among the ruling elite.

Even though Abdullah’s re-election seems assured — thanks to a weak and divided opposition — a large protest vote, compounded by a failure to rally his own core supporters, could threaten his continued leadership, political experts say.

“Basically the enthusiasm has gone,” said pollster Ibrahim Suffian, of local market-research firm the Merdeka Center. He said apathy was a particular risk among Malay voters, who form the bedrock of support for the Barisan Nasional coalition.

“It (apathy) would depress the incumbent’s vote and inflate the opposition’s vote,” Ibrahim said.

…

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BN Government Has Never Forsaken Rural Folks, Says Abdullah

 

The BN government has never forsaken rural folks but has constantly strived to increase infrastructure facilities to provide them a comfortable life, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Sunday.
He said the government would never forget the support given by the rural community all this while but would work to improve their quality of living.
“We know the rural folks support BN because they know it will not neglect them. We can prove our sincerity and commitment to the rural community by bringing in development in phases for their well-being,” he said when opening a new road and the Pinang Tunggal bridge.

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Pak Lah: Component parties decide based on consensus

 

Barisan Nasional is not an autocratic party but makes it decisions based on a general consensus among its component parties and there is no bullying between them.  

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the coalition has no qualms discussing a problem among the component parties. 

“I would make sure that I get everybody’s opinion. If we do not get a decision at the first meeting, we have another meeting.  

“There will be no decision until everyone agrees. There is no such thing as one party bullying another party.

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Abdullah: We will solve woes faced by Indians

 

The problems faced by the Indian community in the country will be seriously looked into and addressed, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. 

“This is not just an empty promise but a serious promise that we will carry out. I am listening to your problems and demands. 

“We will discuss your problems and will execute whatever we have promised in the Barisan Nasional’s manifesto if we win in the coming elections. 

“These include education for the Indians and problems faced by Indians in estates,” he said in his address to about 2,000 Indians at a dinner at Dewan Millennium here. They comprised members and division leaders of the Kepala Batas MIC, Indian Progressive Front and People’s Progressive Party. 

Abdullah said the Government was aware that there were many other problems affecting the Indians that had not been settled.

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Najib feels winds of change in Kelantan

 

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived in this opposition-ruled state yesterday and headed straight to PAS stronghold areas to sway their votes for Barisan Nasional. 

From Bachok to Pasir Puteh to Kota Baru, Kubang Kerian, and then on to Tumpat, all PAS-dominated constituencies, the Deputy Prime Minister made the same call – to “cuba, try, test” Barisan for a term. 

Arriving at Bachok with Bachok-born Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, who is the Barisan anointed Mentri Besar-in waiting, Najib told tobacco farmers that he felt the winds of change in their faces.

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Women body targeting all sexist MPs

 

The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) insists that it is neutral and only wants to educate the constituents about sexism. 

Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah said yesterday that their anti-sexist MPs  campaign here was not just to target its incumbent MP Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu but other candidates, too. 

“We also have friends and other non-governmental organisations in other constituencies throughout the country with sexist candidates and we want to educate the public about sexism,” she told reporters after launching its anti-sexist campaign.  

“We are also against other MPs who had made sexist remarks.”  

Sisters in Islam executive director Zainah Anwar said the campaign was aimed at getting constituents to vote against sexist MPs. 

“If the political party does not want to make any decision about them, then we, the people, must take action and make the decision for them,” she said.  

JAG consists of the All Women’s Action Society (Awam), Empower, Sisters in Islam, Women’s Aid Organisation and Women’s Centre for Change, Penang. 

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