Do you buy this crap?

A “stretched” Election Commission (EC) which announced it was making “administrative preparations” for the re-delineation exercise now, says it cannot manage “two to three things at one time” and as such, nothing will happen before the 13th general election.

Quashing hopes of a nationwide re-delineation exercise of parliamentary and state constituencies before the 13th general election, EC secretary Kamaruddin Ahmad Baria said any such exercise will only take place after the next general election.

“We cannot do two or three things at one time, so we will wait till the (13th) general election is over,” he told FMT, alluding to the Parliamentary Select Committee’s (PSC) 10 recommendations for electoral reforms which, among others, included the introduction of indelible ink, a cleanup of the electoral list and the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate illegal immigrants who were granted citizenships and are now voters.

There have been numerous calls from both sides of the politicial divide, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, for the creation of more parliamentary constituencies.

Both Sabah and Sarawak hold only 56 of the 222 seats in Parliament.

In Kuching yesterday, PSC chairman Maximus Ongkili said they will look into appeals from Sabah and Sarawak to increase the parliamentary seats in both states in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Cobbold Commission Report.

Both states have asked for 34 percent of the total parliamentary seats.

Study to be done

The EC’s announcement yesterday that it had already made “administrative preparations” for the re-delineation exercise had generated curiosity over whether the process will be completed in time for the 13th general election.

But Kamaruddin’s comment – “we will wait untill the next general electio is over” – while putting paid to hopes of more contestable seats in the national polls, has however also left certain quarters in Sabah confused.

Sabah is reportedly having a re-delineation exercise taking place at the moment.

Last week, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) ally United Pasokomogun KadazaDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) in a widely reported press conference told PSC that “in the current re-delineation exercise, Sabah must be given an additional 10 parliamentary seats and Sarawak 27.”

Meanwhile, Kamaruddin declined to elaborate on what the EC’s “administrative preparations” were in relation to the re-delineation exercises.

He also declined to comment on whether the redelineation will spawn an increase in the number of Members of Parliaments.

“I wouldn’t know. We will only decide after the study. We also cannot comment on it (definitively) now and then if it does not happen…,” he said.

Long process

Kamaruddin, however, said that a re-delineation exercise is a long process, adding that the exercise must be completed within two years in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

“We are given that amount of time because we want to do a proper job.

“We will then have more time to go through the re-delineation exercise. During that period, we have to finish reviewing, we have to exhibit the plan to the public for their approval,” he added.

When asked if the process could be completed within a period of months, he said that the EC did not have sufficient manpower to do so.

“You give me 1,000 staff, I can complete the exercise in four months,” he said, adding that the EC would not do a “quick-fix” and wanted to ensure that the process is done thoroughly.

He added that the EC will make a formal announcement as to when the exercise will commence.

In the past, there have been allegations of the EC manipulating the electoral delineation process to increase the number of seats held by a certain race.

[Source: FMT]

Hasan Ali may be dropped as candidate

Selangor PAS has confirmed that its former commissioner Hasan Ali has not received sufficient nominations from local branches for him to defend the Gombak Setia state legislative assembly seat.

In a telephone interview, state information chief Saari Sungib said branches in each division would submit names of three candidates, which would be considered by the party central leadership.

“Hasan did receive nominations, but they were fewer than the other three individuals. It was not enough, not none at all,” he said.

Thus, at the state leadership level, Hasan’s name is not on the list of candidates, but Saari said the central leadership can include him in the line-up later.

Asked if it was possible that Hasan would be fielded elsewhere, Saari indicated that the possibility may be remote.

“Usually for state seats we give priority to persons who are actually living in a particular area,” explained the Hulu Kelang state assemblyperson.

Hasan, who once led Selangor PAS, currently holds the highest ranking position among the Islamic party’s representatives in the state cabinet.

However, he has often run afoul of the Pakatan-led state government for his controversial stands on several matters that contradicted state government decisions.

One issue in particular was the furore surrounding the Damansara Utama Methodist Church ‘inspection’ by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) on claims of proselytising.

Gag orders against Hasan

The state government later issued a gag order against Hasan for widely speaking on the subject.

Hasan had also been issued with a gag order from the central PAS leadership prior to that, for his vocal stand on the use of the term ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.

It is understood that Hasan’s candidacy for Gombak Setia during the 2008 general election was a last-minute decision. Pundits said he was not well-received by the grassroots.

His open defiance of party, Pakatan and state policies as well as perceived links with the ‘unity government’ faction that espouses a PAS-Umno political alliance, also did not endear him to the electorate and party hierarchy.

First contesting for PAS in 1999, he won in both the Sungai Burong state seat and the Parit Buntar parliamentary seat, though he lost both in the 2004 election.

Attempts to contact Hasan for his comments were unsuccessful at the time of writing.

[Source: Mkini]

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All I can say is "good riddance to bad rubbish". Perhaps this is the moment everyone has been waiting for.

The same knife cuts bread and fingers

The horn of war is sounded and the battle will begin at any moment from now!

It is the message conveyed by the Umno general assembly.

The message is clear, namely the general election will be coming soon.

Umno's objective is also very clear, that is, to win and not to lose power.

Therefore, as the Deputy Prime Minister and Umno Deputy President, Tan Sri Mihyuddin Yassin said that Umno must defend the country's diversified political landscape while Umno members should not hate other races, slander other religions and question other cultures.

Therefore, as the Prime Minister, as well as the head of Umno and the BN, Datuk Seri Najib Razak warned that Umno will face a tragedy if it does not recognise the reality. He also reminded BN members to revitalise and unite.

Amidst the rumble of artillery fire, the DAP has become the attacking target. Umno has more or less revealed its strategy.

It might be a campaign strategy drawn by Umno after it recognised the latest situation following the Sarawak state election.

Umno is very clear that instead of the PKR and PAS, its biggest political enemy at the moment is the DAP.

Umno is also very clear that instead of Malay and Indian votes, it has most difficulty in gaining Chinese votes.

Therefore, it has neglected the PKR and PAS and targeted only on the DAP, portraying the DAP as the enemy of the Malays and Islam. It is fully in line with the strategy needs.

The problem is, such a strategy is actually a double-edged sword. Attacking the DAP might on the one hand awaken the sense of crisis of the Malays but on the other hand, it might also make non-Malays feel uneasy. Particularly, Malay rights group Perkasa might take the opportunity to display its strength and it would deepen the people's worry.

Of course the DAP will not stand still. It will do everything it can to fight back against all the accusations.

However, when the war of words begins, any indiscreet remarks would lead to misfire. It is what we are worrying about.

As observed, less radical speeches could be found in the Umno general assembly this time. However, less does not mean no. Some people still touched on racial issues in their speeches.

What we are most worried about is, some people might manipulate racial sentiment to achieve victory.

Instead of worrying that politicians might not see the problem and the potential crisis, we are more worried that some people might still want to take the risk even though they are clear enough about the danger of doing so. Once it happens, it will be the greatest curse of democracy. It will also be the beginning of a tragedy.

Regrettably and terribly, many politicians always point a finger to call others racists but forget that the remaining four fingers are actually pointing to themselves. These politicians also always resort to racism during crisis. They might eventually turn the tide and win the election, but have actually destroyed racial harmony, costing the country and the people a heavy price!

Politicians must always bear in mind that the same knife cuts bread and fingers!

[Source: MySinChew]

Monday Humour

You just have to admire this fellow's sense of creativity. What you see is NOT what you get. It is a fuel tank!

I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE?

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What has happened to common sense these days? Anyway, my day looks pretty good after seeing this.

I could have sworn I hit the brake pedal.

Car upside down in the bay. See the guy standing on it. Call for the wrecker!

Coming back up .... coming ...... coming

Coming real easy .... sloooowly .... almost there!

Oooooops!!!

I could have sworn I set the brakes on that truck. Time to get the big wrecker!!!

Okay, we got the car. Let's get the other wrecker now.

Oooooh no! Now, who's gonna explain this one to the insurance guys.

See, your day has not been so bad after all.

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MORE ONE LINERS

• A mistress lies between a mister and a mattress.
• Sex is the price women have to pay for marriage.
• Marriage is the price men have to pay for sex.
• Impotence: Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings".
• The difference between a husband and a lover is the difference between day and night.
• A tight dress is like a barbed fence. It protects the premises without restricting the view.
• Guns don't kill people... Husbands who come home early, kill people.

The honourable men and women of UMNO Baru

After frothing at their mouths for the last five days, belittling the Opposition in all possible ways, the ignorant and less informed must have deluded themselves to think that UMNO Baru is all good and Pakatan is all evil. One could not help but to think that members of Wanita UMNO must have taken leave of their senses when they could even applaud a speech made by their leader, who is currently embroiled in the NFC scandal and who had the gall to challenge the likes of Keadilan President, Wan Azizah. How honourable can this leader be, and so are the other UMNO Baru leaders who took to the podium that they are the ones who could do no wrong, EXCEPT for the Opposition.

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest

For Brutus is an honourable man

So are they all, all honourable men

Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral

He was my friend, faithful and just to me

But Brutus says he was ambitious

And Brutus is an honourable man

[Julius Caesar, Act 3 Scene II]

The honourable men and women of UMNO Baru.