Surat Dari RPK Kepada Penduduk Kuala Terengganu

From The Din Merican’s blog

Dear Voter,

I trust this letter finds you in good health. You probably already know why I am writing to you. So please allow me to dispense with all the bullshit and cut to the chase, as much as this may appear extremely abrupt and not within Malay culture. I feel I should not labour too much on Malay, Chinese or Indian culture when our mission is to see the emergence of a new culture, a Malaysian culture, a melting pot of cultures if you like.

I am not a politician. I am not a political party member. Neither am I holding any position in any political party, association, movement, or whatever. I am just, what the government calls me, a Blogger. Why they call me a Blogger I do not really know. But I suppose it is because they view me as being behind Malaysia Today and they consider Malaysia Today a Blog.

Anyway, what the government chooses to label me as is not important because what I am going to say to you is not about me but about the future of this country. So, maybe what I would like to be called is a Malaysian. That’s right. I am a Malaysian, just like you, and I am addressing you as one Malaysian to another.

On January 17, 2009, you will be coming out to vote in the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Nevertheless, while you may view this as merely a by-election, it is not really a by-election as much as it is a proxy war between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. Yes, it is an election to decide whether you, the Kuala Terengganu voters, are happy with the federal government or whether you would like to send a message to Barisan Nasional that you are not happy with the way Malaysians are being treated.

On March 8, 2008, half the Malaysian voters voted for Pakatan Rakyat. Granted, it was not a vote in support of Pakatan Rakyat as much as it was a vote against Barisan Nasional — a protest vote, as some would call it. But whether it was a vote in support of Pakatan Rakyat or a vote in protest of Barisan Nasional is not really the issue. The objective was to send a message to Barisan Nasional that the people are not happy. And the people demonstrated this by not voting for Barisan Nasional.

But did Barisan Nasional get the message? Did they take pains to change? No! What happened instead was that Barisan Nasional became even more arrogant. They did not understand that Malaysians have had enough of the arrogance of power and the result of the 8 March 2008 general election was meant as a medium to send a message to Barisan Nasional that 51 years was enough. No more arrogance! But the arrogance continued. Barisan Nasional did not repent. Instead, they demonstrated even more arrogance.

The Permatang Pauh by-election, again, proved that Barisan Nasional had not repented. The dirty tricks they pulled off managed to reduce Anwar Ibrahim’s majority from almost 20,000 to just 15,000. Okay, Anwar Ibrahim still performed better than Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the general election just five months before that. He still got two out of three votes or 66% of the votes. But what would have happened if the vote-majority had been razor-thin like what happened in Kuala Terengganu on March 8, 2008 where the UMNO candidate won by a mere 600 votes? The almost 5,000 votes that they robbed Anwar Ibrahim off would have turned victory into defeat.

I am aware that many of you have received RM300 over the last few days. Some have received RM500 and others as much as RM1,000. This money is aimed at buying your votes. They hope that once you take this money you will feel obligated to vote for Barisan Nasional and that you will feel guilty if, after taking the money, you vote for Pakatan Rakyat.

Well, don’t feel guilty. Take the money by all means. But you need not vote for Barisan Naisonal even if you do take the money. The money does not belong to Barisan Nasional. It belongs to the people. It is your money. So you are just taking back the money that was originally yours in the first place.

Do you really think Barisan Nasional would hand out money that belongs to them? No way! They took this money from you. Over 25 years, from 1974 to 1999, they siphoned out an estimated RM12 billion in Oil Royalty due to Terengganu. Then, from 2000 until 2008, they siphoned out another RM8 billion in the guise of Wang Ehsan. That comes to a total of RM20 billion. And how much are they throwing back at you in this January 17, 2009 by-election? Yes, that’s right, only RM80 million.

Okay, RM80 million sounds like a lot of money. It certainly is when you consider that the law says you must not spend more than RM200,000 in the election. So RM80 million is way above the allowed RM200,000. And that is just the Ang Pows they are going around town to hand out to the voters. What about the posters, flags, banners, balloons, T-shirts, caps, food and drinks, vehicles, helicopters, police outriders, salaries, etc., which you, the rakyat, are ultimately paying for? Don’t be surprised if I tell you that the total amount spent is going to touch at least RM250 million and that this is probably the most expensive by-election ever. And we are yet to calculate how much it costs to station 6,000 police personnel in Kuala Terengganu over the two-week period.

But whose money is all this? Why, yours of course. They are spending your money, or should I say, wasting your money, just to retain the Kuala Terengganu parliament seat. And why the need to spend what may come to RM500 million in the end– if we take into consideration the total mobilisation cost — just to win a by-election? Well, as I said earlier, it is because the Kuala Terengganu by-election is not just a by-election but a proxy war between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

Malaysians from all over the country are hoping that you, the Kuala Terengganu voters, will do the right thing. And the ‘right thing’ here is to send a message to Barisan Nasional that you can’t be bought, especially with your own money — which they robbed from you in the first place. Also, send a message to Barisan Nasional that you have had enough of the arrogance, the threats, the rampant corruption and wastage of the rakyat’s money, the abuse of power, and whatnot. Tell Barisan Nasional on January 17, 2009 that 52 years is enough. After 52 years it is time for change.

With regards to the 6,000 police personnel based in Kuala Terengganu over these two weeks, don’t be too alarmed. Sure, it is partly meant to intimidate you and to give an impression that trouble may be brewing over the horizon, especially if Barisan Nasional does not win the by-election. But this is not the real reason. Remember, when they handed you the RM300, RM500 or RM1,000, they asked you for copies of your identity cards on the excuse they need this ‘for the record’? Well, it is not really ‘for the record’. They want to use these copies of your identity cards to create ‘phantom voters’. And don’t be surprised if on Polling Day many of the 6,000 police personnel turn up in ‘plain clothes’ to vote in your place.

They are hoping that at least 20,000 to 25,000 of you will not come out to vote. This is quite normal because in any election the best we can expect is a 70% or so voter turnout. 30% of 80,000, therefore, comes to roughly 20,000 to 25,000 ‘no show’ voters. They can then always ‘safely’ increase the voter turnout to 75% and no one will be the wiser. This means they can pad the ballot boxes with about 4,000 to 5,000 ‘additional’ votes with no problems whatsoever. Now can you see why they need 6,000 police personnel in Kuala Terengganu? Take a wild guess and no prize for the right guess.

I urge you, therefore, to come out and vote so that you can deny them the opportunity to vote in your place. And come out early. Come out as soon as the polling stations open. If you go and vote after lunch you might find you are not able to vote because you ‘already voted’ — as many found out in the Permatang Pauh by-election on 26 August 2008.

In the Permatang Pauh by-election, at least 600 voters could not vote because someone else had already voted in their place. And that is only what was reported. Many just silently went home without complaining that someone had voted in their place. We expect the incidences of ‘sudah undi’ to be very high on 17 January 2009. And if that happens lodge a protest. And make a police report as well. In Permatang Pauh, about 50 police reports were made — and of course no action was taken.

One issue they are playing up to the hilt is the issue of the Islamic State and Hudud laws. This is aimed at frightening the Chinese voters. Why don’t you turn the tables on them and, for once, place Barisan Nasional on the defensive. Ask UMNO what their stand on the Islamic State is. Instead of allowing them to demonise PAS, ask UMNO to declare that they are opposed to the Islamic State and will never agree to Islamic laws. Make this a condition before you decide whether you will vote for the Barisan Nasional candidate. If Umno refuses to do this then why are they demonising PAS? Will UMNO, therefore, not also be considered in support of the Islamic State and Islamic laws?

Then ask UMNO why they are giving so much problems to the Christians. The Christians are very unhappy with the UMNO-led government’s policy on churches and the Bible. But all this is happening at federal level and only in the UMNO-run states. The Christians face no problems in Pakatan Rakyat-run states, not even in Kelantan. Is it not Umno, rather than PAS, that is intolerant of the non-Muslims? This is the reality. And almost 20 years of PAS rule in Kelantan lies testimony to this.

So why are they demonising PAS when it is UMNO that causes so much problems for the non-Muslims? Many reject PAS because they fear Islam. But PAS has been very tolerant and helpful to the non-Muslims. Kelantan offers the non-Muslims permission to build places of worship even when they did not approach the state government for permission. UMNO repeatedly denies non-Muslims permission to set up places of worship.

Yes, it is time that UMNO be asked to state very clearly its stand on the Islamic State and Islamic laws. PAS is not in power. PAS can never be in power. PAS has only 23 seats in Parliament. Even if it wins the Kuala Terengganu by-election it will still only be 24 seats. PAS can never win more than 30 seats in Parliament. Even in the best of times, like in 1999, it won only 27 Parliament seats. PAS can never go beyond 30 seats. Anyway, every general election, PAS contests only 60 seats. So how can it win more than that?

It is UMNO that leads the federal government. And it is Umno that decides the policies and makes the rules. And it is UMNO that is giving the non-Muslims all these problems. So why is PAS being demonised? Why do the non-Muslims fear PAS? This, I can’t seem to understand. You fear PAS because of what it MAY do if it comes to power — even though it can never come to power, not without DAP and PKR. But you do not fear UMNO when it is already in power and is the one giving the non-Muslims all these problems. Is this logical?

It would be very nice if the Kuala Terengganu voters, once and for all, force UMNO to state its stand on Islam. Let UMNO declare its stand openly and before 17 January 2009, if they dare. I dare bet that they won’t. That is because, while they are demonising PAS on its Islamic State stand, Umno itself does not dare state its stand. At least PAS is honest about the matter. Can we say the same for UMNO? UMNO whacks PAS but it is not PAS that is the problem to the non-Muslims. It is UMNO.

I would like to end by saying I hope you, the Kuala Terengganu voters, will not let Malaysia down. We are depending on you to teach Barisan Nasional a lesson on January 17, 2009. A message needs to be sent to Barisan Nasional. And you have the opportunity to do this in the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Do this for Malaysia. And, more importantly, do it for the future generation, your children and grandchildren. You owe them this much.

Yours truly,

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Wawancara Wahid, Mingguan Malaysia digesa mohon maaf dan perbetul kesilapan - Harakah Daily

Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob | Foto Wan Zahari Wan Salleh
Sun | Jan 11, 09 | 1:34:10 pm MYT

KUALA TERENGGANU, 11 Jan (Hrkh) - Akhbar Mingguan Malaysia digesa memperbetulkan kesilapan menghilangkan perkataan dalam laporan wawancara bersama Calon PAS, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut yang tersiar dalam akhbar berkenaan hari ini.

Akhbar milik Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad ini telah menyiarkan wawancara dua calon yang bertanding iaitu Wahid dan calon BN, Dato' Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh di halaman tujuh.

Akhbar itu juga diminta memohon maaf kepada Calon PAS berikutan kesilapan yang bagi Pesuruhjaya PAS, Mustafa Ali sebagai sesuatu yang mungkin disengajakan.

"Kalau tersalah ejaan mungkin kita boleh terima, tetapiini salah perkataan, seperti disengajakan," katanyakepada wartawan dalam satu sidang medianya di PusatMedia PAS, Kuala Ibai hari ini.

Wawancara yang disiarkan itu antara lain menyebut Wahid kononnya berkata " Saya kenal Allahyarham Razali (Dato' Razali Ismail bekas ahli Parlimen Kuala Terengganu).Allahyarham seorang yang profesional dan mengamalkan rasuah,".

Menurut Mustafa, perkataan 'mengamalkan rasuah' itu sebenarnya salah, sebaliknya setelah beliau meminta penjelasan sebenar Wahid, beliau menyatakan perkataan 'tidak' sepatutnya mendahului perkataan sebelum 'mengamalkan rasuah'.

"Sepatutnya ia ditaip 'tidak mengamalkan rasuah'," kata Mustafa Ali yang turut kesal dengan insiden yang dianggap sebagai kesilapan yang keterlaluan.

Bagi Mustafa, ia melanggar etika dan profesionalisme media, dan beliau mengharapkan ia tidak diulangi.

Beliua turut menyatakan pihaknya kini sedang mengkaji tindakan selanjutnya jika akhbar terbabit tidak membuat pembetulan dan memohon maaf dalam tempoh sebelum hari pembuangan undi.

Selain itu Mustafa juga mengulangi amaran kepada pihak BN agar tifak terus menggunakan media arus perdana untuk menyelewengkan fakta mengenai kenyataan pembangkang.

Malah paling dikesali, isu hudud yang tidak relevan dengan isu yang sepatutnya dibangkitkan dalam pilihan raya kecil ini dimainkan sekali lagi oleh akhbar arus perdana, katanya.

Mereka kekurangan modal dan isu untuk menghentam pembangkang hingga isu yang tidak ada kena mengena dengan situasi kempen dimainkan dalam media, katanya.

Mustafa sekali lagi memberi amaran kepada pihak terbabit agar profesional dalam melaporkan kenyataan mana-mana pihak yang terbabit dalam pilihan raya kecil ini./wann_

Tiga kesilapan pilih Wan Farid - Harakah Daily

Mohd Rashidi Hassan Sun | Jan 11, 09 | 7:42:13 am MYT

KESILAPAN besar Umno ialah dengan meletakkan Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh menjadi calon Barisan Nasional untuk mempertahankan kerusi Allahyarham Razali Ismail. Silap bukan kerana Wan Farid calon pilihan Perdana Menteri, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang tidak diterima kumpulan TPM, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak. Walaupun ada cerita-cerita orang Umno, Najib lebih suka jika Roslan Awang Chik, Presiden Persatuan Kontraktor Melayu Malaysia menjadi calon. Wan Farid dan Roslan berseteru. Roslan yang dikenali lebih rapat dengan TPM sebelum ini adalah Ketua Umno Bahagian Kuala Terengganu yang ditewaskan oleh Wan Farid ketika menjadi Setiausaha Politik Abdullah beberapa tahun lepas. Perseteruan ini bukannya persepsi. Perseteruan ini adalah realiti yang tidak dapat ditolak Umno, akibat perpecahan dalaman yang serius. Perseteruan yang berpanjangan ini merupakan kesilapan pertama Umno. Sehingga ada orang-orang Umno tertentu, sudah menyatakan sokongan dan kesediaan untuk mengundi calon PAS, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut secara diam-diam. Hari ini Umno-BN yang meletakkan Wan Farid sebagai pengganti Razali, berkempen dengan memuji kehebatan serta jasa-jasa bekas Ahli Parlimen itu. Rakyat di luar Terengganu boleh dibohongi. Tetapi orang-orang Umno dan rakyat Terengganu sendiri menyaksikan bagaimana ketika hayat Razali, beliau diketepikan dan dikalahkan oleh orang-orang Wan Farid dalam pemilihan bahagian. Bagaimana mungkin Wan Farid atau Umno KT, boleh menjaja beliau sebagai kesinambungan legasi Razali, jika allahyarham bekas timbalan menteri itu langsung tidak dipedulikan ketika hayatnya? Kesilapan kedua ialah soal personaliti Wan Farid. Bukan soal hendak dibahaskan dia orang baik atau jahat. Bukan juga nak dibangkitkan kegemarannya berkaraoke. Masalahnya ialah beliau tidak dilihat mewakili golongan marhain dan golongan miskin bagi negeri Terengganu, yang sentiasa terletak dalam kelompok negeri-negeri termiskin di Malaysia. Masalahnya bukan pada rakyat sahaja. Ada kalangan orang-orang Umno sendiri yang mendakwa Wan Farid jenis 'hidung tinggi'. Barangkali beliau tidak begitu, mungkin pada raut wajahnya kelihatan begitu tetapi hatinya tidak. Soalnya perkara ini bukan persepsi atau ia menjadi bahan serangan kempen PAS untuk memburuk-burukkan personaliti lawan. Ianya adalah hakikat yang berlaku, wujud dalam Umno sendiri. Sehingga ada kalangan Umno yang mendakwa, jika pun keluarga Wan Farid membuat kenduri, beliau lebih mengutamakan kawan-kawan di KL daripada orang Terengganu sendiri. Itu cerita orang Umno, entah betul entah tidak. Tetapi, jika TPM sendiri yang risau dengan personaliti calon BN ini, dan meminta beliau lebih tersenyum kerana raut wajahnya yang serius berbanding Abdul Wahid, maka ada banyak perkara yang 'tidak kena' kepada calon BN itu. Kesilapan ketiga ialah isu penguasaan kekayaan negara, sama ada peruntukan dari Kerajaan Persekutuan dan penggunaan wang royalti yang dikaitkan dengan Wan Farid serta Idris Jusoh dan anggota keluarga mereka. Orang-orang Umno ramai yang tidak berpuashati dengan penguasaan kedua-dua mereka kepada hasil kekayaan negeri. Penglibatan abang calon BN iaitu bekas Adun Ladang, Wan Hisham Wan Salleh dalam projek besar Monsoon Cup diratib dibibir orang Umno. Kedua-duanya Wan Farid dan Idris dikatakan tidak disenangi kumpulan Menteri Besar, Ahmad Said. Kedua-dua mereka adalah kroni rapat menantu PM, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar yang juga Ahli Parlimen Rembau dan Patrick Lim yang dikenali sebagai Patrick Badawi. Ketiga-tiga isu ini adalah isu besar kepada Umno. Ianya bukan rahsia dan amat diketahui oleh rakyat, khususnya pengundi-pengundi di KT. Hakikat daripada ini menyebabkan, BN menjadi terlalu defensif. BN tidak mampu lagi menjual idea pembangunan. Mereka terpaksa menjawab isu-isu ini sebelum rakyat menjatuhkan hukuman terhadap BN. Bagaimanapun di kalangan BN juga sedar bahawa tidak mungkin dalam tempoh seminggu dua ini semuanya dapat di atasi. Bagaimana mungkin calon BN yang sudah lama dikenali termasuk dalam golongan elitis yang tidak mesra rakyat, boleh mengubah sikapnya dalam tempoh dua minggu. Bagaimana mungkin seseorang yang sifatnya susah untuk 'manis muka' boleh diterima rakyat hanya selepas menjadi seperti 'badut sarkas' dalam tempoh dua minggu sahaja? Hakikatnya, angin perubahan rakyat selepas PRU Mac 2008 sudah tidak dapat lagi dibendung. Umno sudah semakin tidak relevan dan BN semakin tidak diterima rakyat. Implikasi kekalahan Wan Farid bukan setakat beliau hilang jawatan timbalan menteri, senator atau setiausaha politik, ia adalah signal bahawa rakyat terus menolak legasi Abdullah dan tidak menerima kepimpinan yang bakal diwarisi Najib. - mks. _

2 'bom' baru Ezam, Anwar arah urus damai dengan Dr. M - mStar Online

Ahad Januari 11, 2009
Oleh G. MANIMARAN

KUALA TERENGGANU: Bekas 'orang kuat' Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor malam tadi mendedahkan bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu pernah memintanya supaya menguruskan langkah berdamai dengan Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad tidak sampai seminggu selepas dipecat.

Malah, Ezam bekas Setiausaha Politik kepada Anwar juga mendedahkan tarikh tepat beliau melihat kandungan enam kotak rahsia yang dikaitkan dengan kononnya bukti gejala rasuah pemimpin-pemimpin Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) semasa berada dalam kerajaan.

Justeru, beliau turut mencabar Anwar sendiri menjawab pendedahan-pendedahan tersebut sebelum memperincikan kedua-dua perkara itu kelak.

Anwar dipecat sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kewangan pada 2 September dan ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) 20 September.

"Hari ini (malam tadi) saya mendedahkan dua perkata penting... saya selama ini tidak mahu mendedahkan, memalukan dan menelanjangkan Anwar.

"Saya tidak mendedahkan perkara ini di Permatang Pauh (ketika pilihan raya kecil Ogos lalu ditandingi Anwar).

"Tetapi saya terus dicabar untuk mendedahkan (di mana beradanya enam kotak)... hari ini saya mendedahkan perkara ini," kata beliau ketika berucap di pusat bandar Kuala Terengganu malam tadi.

Mengulas lanjut tentang dua pendedahan itu, Ezam yang juga bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) berkata, selepas berucap mengecam kepimpinan Dr. Mahathir (bekas Perdana Menteri) pada 7 September, Anwar pada hari berikutnya meminta menguruskan langkah berdamai.

"Pada 7 September, Anwar mengkritik dan mengecam Dr. Mahathir, kata macam-macam tentang Dr. Mahathir, tetapi pada hari esok beliau minta saya menguruskan cara untuk berdamai dengan Dr. Mahathir.... macam mana punya pemimpin ini?' katanya.

Ezam menyertai Umno pada Mei lalu.

Ezam sebelum ini juga pernah mendakwa bukti-bukti itu tidak ada pada beliau, sebaliknya disimpan Anwar.

"Kalau ada pada saya, sudah tentu saya telah tunjukkan. Saya konsisten dengan perjuangan membanteras rasuah," katan beliau bulan lalu.

Ezam berkata, ketika masih bersama PKR, beliau pernah menyuarakan kepada Anwar yang juga Penasihat PKR supaya mendedahkan kandungan kotak-kotak itu, tetapi Anwar meminta beliau supaya menunggu.

"Saya tidak setuju. Itu antara sebabnya saya keluar PKR," katanya.

Bulan lalu, Angkatan Muda PKR Terengganu telah mencabar Ezam agar mendedahkan kandungan kotak rasuah itu sewaktu berkempen dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu.

Ketika ditemui selepas ucapannya, Ezam mengakui bahawa beliau telah berusaha untuk menunaikan permintaan Anwar itu.

"Saya telah menghubungi beberapa orang Dr. Mahathir, tetapi saya tunggu biar Anwar menjawab apa yang saya dedahkan ini dulu.

"Yang lain saya akan keluarkan kemudian.... saya cabar Anwar jawab perkara ini dulu, saya tidak mahu orang-orang dia jawab, biar Anwar jawab sendiri," katanya.

Ezam juga berkata, selain berusaha untuk mendamaikan kedua-dua mereka, beliau juga pernah menguruskan usaha damai dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebelum dibebaskan pada 2004.

Mengenai enam kotak berkenaan, Ezam mengulangi bahawa ia masih berada dalam simpanan Anwar yang kini merupakan Ketua Umum Pakatan Rakyat dan Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen.

Jelas beliau, menurut Anwar kotak-kotak berkenaan berada di dalam dan di luar negara.

"Ada satu ketika saya pernah bertanya di mana kotak-kotak itu, Anwar memberitahu bahawa jangan takut, ia berada di tempat yang selamat di dalam dan di luar negara," katanya lagi.

Kata Ezam, beliau masih ingat dengan tepat tarikh kali terakhir melihat kotak dan dokumen-dokumen berkenaan.

"Tarikhnya saya dedahkan hari ini iaitu 8 September, hari anak sulung saya lahir... hari isteri saya dimasukkan ke hospital dan saya tidak berada bersamanya.

"Saya tidak ada bersamanya kerana saya diminta menguruskan kotak ini dan usaha damai dengan Dr. Mahathir... ini pengorbanan saya, saya masuk penjara (selama dua tahun) disebabkan mendedahkan soal rasuah," katanya.