Guan Eng announces Penang exco line-up

Guan Eng announces Penang exco line-up
Mar 13, 08 3:24pm
Newly-minted Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today announced his 11-member executive council - the highest administrative body in the state.

The exco, which is led by Lim, is made up of eight DAP assemblypersons and three PKR assemblypersons.

Lim will himself be responsible for two portfolios - industrial development and international trade, as well as land development affairs.

Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister (I) Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin from PKR has been put in charge of three areas - religious affairs, cooperative and entrepreneurship development, and information and communication.

Deputy Chief Minister (II) P Ramasamy - the first Indian Malaysian to be appointed such a high post in the state - will be looking after state economy planning.

Ramasamy, a former university lecturer, will also be in charge of education and human resources as well as science, technology and innovation.

The DAP-led opposition made a near clean sweep in Penang in the March 8 general election and totally wiped out the BN-Gerakan and MCA’s hold in the island state.

BN now only controls 11 out of the 40 state seats in Penang, which are all held by Umno. The remaining seats are with DAP (19), PKR (nine) and PAS (one).

The lone PAS member, who has said he will support the coalition government, has been left out of the exco.

The following are the full line-up of the Penang state exco:



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PAS umumkan 4 perkara penting

PAS umumkan 4 perkara penting
Posted by Erin
Thursday, 13 March 2008

(SiasahDaily) - Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mengumumkan empat perkara penting yang menjadi isu sekarang dalam sidang medianya selepas mesyuarat Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat semalam.
Perkara itu adalah:

1. Beliau sendiri telah menandatangani surat bagi pihak PAS kepada Sultan Selangor menyokong Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim untuk menjadi Menteri Besar Selangor.
2. PAS hanya berunding dengan PKR dalam isu Exco Kedah dan telah memberikan tiga kerusi untuk PKR tentukan wakilnya dalam kerajaan negeri. Terserah kepada PKR untuk memilih exconya dan PAS telah menyatakan kesediaannya jika salah satunya adalah dari DAP.
3. PAS tidak menolak sepenuhnya Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) kerana dasar itu ada juga kebaikannya. Bagaimanapun, PAS bersetuju dengan dasar-dasar baik yang dikemukakan Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang dan ianya telah dilaksanakan di Terengganu dan Kelantan termasuk dasar mengisytiharkan harta, tender terbuka dan sebagainya.
4. Buat masa sekarang, beliau tidak ada masa dan minat untuk berunding dengan Umno sehinggalah kesemua kerajaan negeri BA selamat ditubuhkan. Selepas itu, PAS bersedia untuk berunding dengan Umno untuk kepentingan negara.


Turut serta bersama beliau dalam sidang media itu adalah Setiausaha Agung PAS, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar dan Ketua Penerangan PAS, Haji Mahfuz Omar.

Kerajaan Kedah tidak tolak DEB sepenuhnya

Kerajaan Kedah tidak tolak DEB sepenuhnya PDF Print E-mail
Posted by Erin
Thursday, 13 March 2008

(Harakah) - Kerajaan Kedah tidak menolak Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) secara total, bagaimanapun akan melalui beberapa perbincangan khusus sebelum menentukan dasar kewangan negeri yang boleh memberi manafaat kepada semua pihak.

Menteri Besar Kedah, Ustaz Haji Azizan Abdul Razak berkata, kerajaan negeri akan mengadakan perbincangan terlebih dahulu dengan pihak Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (Upen) dan pihak yang terbabit sebelum mengeluarkan satu garis panduan mengenai dasar kewangan.

Manakala dalam perlaksanaan NCER, beliau akan berjumpa Perdana Menteri selaku Pengerusi NCER bagi memperhalusi mengenainya.

Walau bagaimanapun katanya, sehingga kini Kedah belum melaksanakan apa-apa projek dalam konteks NCER.

"Ini baru peringkat meminang, belum laksanakan apa-apa lagi, kita tengoklah nanti macam mana," jelas beliau kepada wartawan selepas Mesyuarat Exco kali pertama di Wisma Darul Aman kelmarin.

Selain itu, Azizan juga menjelaskan kerajaan negeri akan menghadkan jumlah gaji para Exco yang disifatkannya terlalu tinggi.

Dalam pada itu beliau menasihatkan para pelabur asing di Kulim agar tidak terpengaruh dengan laporan yang mengatakan terdapat masalah mengenai masa depan prospek perniagaan mereka setelah kerajaan negeri beralih tampuk pemerintahan setelah BN tumbang.

Beliau yang ditemani Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri, Dato' Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah berkata, Kedah akan berusaha menambah jumlah pelabur asing dan bersedia berjumpa dengan mereka untuk berbincang bagi memajukan Kulim High-Tech Park serta beberapa projek yang lain.

"Kita tidak ada masalah dengan pelabur, saya bukan anti pembangunan, PAS tidak anti pembangunan, kita nak tarik lebih ramai pelabur, jangan dengan khabar angin, jumpa terus dengan pihak kerajaan, datang jumpa saya untuk kita bincang, jelas beliau.

Sial tanpa bin.....Melayu hilang dunianya

Sial tanpa bin.....Melayu hilang dunianya
Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 13 March 2008

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Perlakuan pimpinan DAP menghina Raja-Raja Melayu bukan kali ini sahaja dilakukan. Karpal Singh sendiri satu ketika dahulu pernah mengambil tindakan lebih kurang sopan menyaman Sultan Selangor. Tapi apakan daya, Melayu mudah lupa.

KAMAL AMIR MENULIS

“Blogger” laman maya “Bigdogbone” mencatatkan posting terbaru berjudul “Kemelut lantikan MB Perak: DAP sudah tunjuk KURANG AJAR! Menurutnya penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang sudah menunjukan ‘belang sebenar’ (true colours) KURANG AJAR, sebagai pemimpin parti chauvinis

Dengan pengumuman kesemua 18 ADUN DAP akan memulaukan upacara angkat sumpah Menteri Besar (MB) Perak yang dijadualkan berlangsung esok dihadapan DYTM Pemangku Sultan Perak Raja Nazrin Shah Sultan Azlan Shah di Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar disifatkan olehnya amat biadap serta bukan sikap seorang pemimpin terbilang.

Begitu rungsing dan marah sekali penulis tersebut menyuarakan isi hatinya terhadap tindak tanduk pimpinan DAP teman sebantal PKR dan Pas yang ternyata mimpinya lain-lain.

Persoalannya apakah semua ini telah diteliti, dihalusi serta dirongkai satu persatu sebelum rakyat membuat pilihan musim pilihanraya Sabtu lalu? Pakatan pembangkang yang mencetuskan Barisan Alternatif dimusim gelombang kebangkitan Suara Rakyat Suara Keramat tidak harus dipersalahkan. Rakyat juga jangan sekali-kali diletakkan kesalahan keatas mereka.

Seharusnya semua ini dipikul oleh Abdullah Ahmad Badawi beserta sidang wazir dan menantu kesayangannya Si Kitol @ anak tanpa bin yang mengakibatkan rasional rakyat khususnya umat Melayu tidak lagi mampu memperhitungkan kesan atau akibatnya.

Hari ini Melayu sudah menjadi ibarat pepatah “ ayam terlepas tangan berlumuran najis”. Apakan daya “nasi sudah menjadi bubur”. Malangnya Pak Kadok, ayam menang kampong tergadai merupakan fenomena yang terjelma di musim pilihanraya lalu kesan percaturan politik sempang peranang Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Memang benar Hang Tuah ada menyatakan, “Tak kan Melayu hilang di dunia”. Tapi hari ini setelah gelombang kebangkitan Tsunami politik membawa Suara Rakyat kuasa keramat menerjah tanpa mampu ditahan akhirnya kini terjelma situasi “ Melayu kian Hilang Duniannya”.

Kerana itulah satu ketika dahulu berkali-kali saya nyatakan bahawa sebarang kemungkinan yang tercetus akibat dari ledakan kemarahan rakyat, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak boleh lari dari kebertanggungjawapan ini.

Buku yang saya tulis berjudul “Melayu Hilang Duniannya” serta “ Episod Gelora Melayu” telahpun mengungkapan semua kemungkinan ini. Namun kerana perangai haprak, asyik mengulit bini baru janda anak dua yang tidak diketahui asal usul keturunan oleh Abdullah Ahmad Badawi semua itu tidak sedikitpun dihiraukan olehnya, maka terjadilah situasi sebegini.

Kebiadapan DAP melalui kenyataan pimpinannya Lim Kit Siang memang telah terduga, namun apa mahu di kata lagi? Nasi sudah menjadi bubur!!!

Hairannya Hishamuddin Tun Husien Onn kenapa harus membacul seribu bahasa? Di mana lesapnya keris keramat Lok Tujuh? Masih mahu terus dikucup dan dikucup lagikah? Mungkin enak diulit mimpi indah berselimutkan Sang Saka bangsa.

Setiap yang terjadi hari ini adalah kerana sialnya Melayu memiliki pemimpin bernama Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, petaka mendatang adalah kesan percaturan tempang Si Kitol @ anak tanpa bin @ menantu PM.

Sejarah telah mencatatkan lebih 500 tahun Melayu terjajah menjilat telapak kaki pendatang enak meragut berahi gadis yang dilacurkan oleh penjajah kesan percaturan Mamak Bendahara Mandaliar dan Si Kitol. Maruah bangsa teramat hina jadinya. Kini situasi sedemikian kian menampakkan bayang-bayang kehadirannya disebalik suram bernama demokrasi.

Perlakuan pimpinan DAP menghina Raja-Raja Melayu bukan kali ini sahaja dilakukan. Karpal Singh sendiri satu ketika dahulu pernah mengambil tindakan lebih kurang sopan menyaman Sultan Selangor. Tapi apakan daya, Melayu mudah lupa.

DAP memang sejak dari dulu menentang dan tidak bersedia dengan Dasar Ekonomi Baru. Baginya hak keistimewaan orang-orang Melayu juga perlu dilenyapkan dari perlambagaan. DAP yang merupakan legasi parti PAP Singapura satu ketika dahulu bukanlah kawan yang boleh dibawa pulang kerumah kerana betis yang diberi paha pula menjadi idamannya. Bangsa yang tidak pernah tahu di untung, anak cucu yang tidak tahu berterima kasih, menyembunyikan kebejatan nafsu nafsinya disebalik nama demokrasi… tapi Melayu mudah lupa.

Setiap yang berlaku hari ini adalah kesan kerosakan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Si Kitol @ anak tanpa bin @ Menantu PM yang terlalu tinggi nafsu serakahnya. Kerana itulah sewajarnya Dollah segera turun meninggalkan anjung kuasa Seri Perdana kerana selagi dia masih disitu bersama kerajaan tiga beranaknya selagi itu seluruh untung nasib masadepan bangsa bakal menjadi “Melayu Hilang Duniannya”.

Menurut Big Dog Bone lagi, “Jelas parti chauvinis Cina ini tidak langsung menghormati Perlembagaan Negeri Perak dan Raja Melayu sebagai Ketua Negeri. Malah keangkuhan memboikot perlantikan MB Perak ini umpama ingkar kepada perkenaan baginda Pemangku Sultan Perak yang boleh disifatkan sebagai KURANG AJAR KETERLALUAN!

Sistem demokrasi yang diamalkan Malaysia ialah Raja Perlembagaan. Sekiranya DAP angkuh dan ingkar untuk menghormati Perlembagaan dan Raja Melayu, maknanya DAP merupakan mereka yang tidak lagi layak menjadi warga Perak, jauh sekali pemimpin politik.

Ini bukan kali pertama DAP menunjukan KURANG AJAR mereka, selepas memenangi Pilihanraya Umum. Selepas memenangi banyak kerusi Pilihanraya Umum 10 Mei 1969, DAP merupakan pengerak utama siri perarakan sekitar Kuala Lumpur yang mencemuh dan menghina orang orang Melayu. Langsung ianya membangkitkan kemarahan dikalangan orang orang Melayu dan berlakulah peristiwa rusuhan kaum berdarah 13 Mei 1969.

Apakah DAP dan Lim Kit Siang dengan angkuhnya sengaja cuba menjolok sarang tebuan api lagi, kali ini dengan tindakan politik KETERLALUAN dan KURANG AJAR ini? Apa untungnya masyarakat majmuk dan Negara Malaysia sekiranya tindakan KETERLALUAN dan KURANG AJAR ini akan membangkitkan kemarahan dan berulang kejadian yang semua pihak berusaha untuk elakan, hampir 40 tahun ini?

Sebelum ini, anak Kit Siang iaitu Guan Eng yang baru mengangkat sumpah sebagai KM Pulau Pinang mengumumkan bahawa DEB tidak akan dilaksanakan dinegeri itu. Jelas kesilapan memberikan golongan KURANG AJAR ini kuasa terserlah hanya empat hari selepas menang!

Kebobrokkan politik cukup sempang peranang sebegini tidak perlu lagi diratapkan. Kalaupun kita mampu memberi peringgatakan demi peringatan kepada Lim Kit Siang dan pimpinan DAP, agar tidak terus mencetuskan polimik dan retorik mengadu domaba untuk mengujudkan sengketa kaum, namun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak boleh berlepas tangan menyalahkan rakyat.

Semua yang terjadi adalah terpikul dibahunya bersama sidang wazir termasuk anak tanpa bin @ Si Kitol @ menantu PM. Kesemua mereka adalah berhutang kepada Bangsa Melayu atas aib dan hancurnya maruah bangsa saat ini. Dollah seharusnya segera berundur dari jawatannya dan memulangkan kepada bangsa Melayu untuk membuat perhitungan.

Lagi cepat imam Islam Hadhari yang munafik, pembohong dan kaki temberang ini berundur memudahkan Melayu membuat perhitungannya secara anak jantan. Ingat pepatah wira terbilang. Selagi kaki melangkah pulang tanpa kejayaan tidak akan terjadi. Berpatahkan sayap bertongkatkan paruh, namun ku daki ku daki jua.....fikir-fikirkanlah.

Now See What Happens When You Play Around With The Keris?

Now See What Happens When You Play Around With The Keris?
Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 13 March 2008

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The abandonment of the MCA, Gerakan and MIC by the Malaysian electorate would suggest that the non-Malay voters have grown fed up with the toothless apologia of the non-Malay leaders and representatives of the BN when faced with the antics of UMNO demagogues and soap-box orators.

By Farish A. Noor

As the broken remnants of the Barisan Nasional recuperate and recover what is left of their shattered pride, it would be prudent to take a step back and look at some of the factors that have certainly contributed to the dismal showing the BN component parties and the UMNO party in particular.

It is clear to many that this election was, in some ways, a singularly unique event in the same way that the 2004 elections were special. 2004’s election results could be read as a collective sigh of relief on the part of the Malaysian electorate after twenty years of rule under the Mahathir government, which witnessed a host of controversial incidents ranging from the BMF scandal of the early 1980s all the way up to Operasi Lalang in 1987. The enormous mandate given to the Badawi government was a sign that the public was thirsting for change and that they were no longer willing to live with the modes of governance and politics that we have all grown sadly accustomed to for lack of a choice…

This time round, the electorate has once again spoken to signal their utter disillusionment after it became painfully evident that none of the reform policies foregrounded by the Badawi team were ever going to come true. Instead this had been an administration long on gimmicks and novelties, but short on substance and delivery. Was it necessary to send a Malaysian astronaut to space on a Russian craft, to make the vain boast that a Malaysian citizen had been there and done that? If this was meant to assuage the anger and frustration of Malaysians who lived in estates and poorly-run low-cost urban housing, it certainly had the opposite effect of driving home the point that this administration was out of touch with reality and totally disconnected with the needs and wants of the people.

But vain boasts notwithstanding, the Badawi government suffered its long-overdue shock due to the vain boasts of some of its leaders and spokesmen. Here is it worth noting the effect that UMNO’s own overheated pyrotechnics had on the sentiments and sensibilities of a significant section of the Malaysian public; namely the non-Malays and non-Muslims of the country. In particular we are referring to the repeated assertion on the part of some hot-headed UMNO leaders who continued to harp on about the notion of Malay dominance in a racially and religiously diverse and plural society.

The abandonment of the MCA, Gerakan and MIC by the Malaysian electorate would suggest that the non-Malay voters have grown fed up with the toothless apologia of the non-Malay leaders and representatives of the BN when faced with the antics of UMNO demagogues and soap-box orators. In particular we will recall the incidents when the leader of UMNO’s Youth Wing Hishammuddin Onn, brandished the keris in public, on stage, and pontificated at some length about Malay pride and the place of the Malays in Malaysia.

The use of the keris as a symbol of racial unity and identity was and is in itself problematic, considering that the keris in Malaysia today is such a politically loaded symbol that is pregnant with meaning and historical connotations. Hishammuddin’s brandishing of the keris did not take place in a historical vacuum, even if the politician had no sense of history (which is unlikely to be the case.)

As we all know, the keris has been transformed into a marker for a particular sort of right-wing ethno-nationalist ideology that serves the agenda of Malay racial and cultural supremacists since 1969 and all the way up to 1987 and beyond. Need we remind the leaders of UMNO that some of them were also present at the Malay nationalists’ rally in Kampung Baru in 1987, when once again the keris was identified with Malay pride as well as the threat of violence? UMNO leaders like Najib Razak were present when their supporters chanted and carried banners with slogans like ‘This keris will drink Chinese blood’.

It is against that specific historical context – that was fully engineered by UMNO, mind you – that Hishammuddin’s raising of the keris on several occasions aroused both the fear and anger of many non-Malays and Malays as well. Was this not an act of provocation, where once again UMNO was brandishing its muscle in defiance of the other communities in the country?

Compounding the problem was the MCA, Gerakan and MIC’s relative impotence and quietism when Hisham gave us this theatrical display of misplaced ethnic pride and muscular nationalism. Despite the plaintive appeals of the leaders of MCA, Gerakan and MIC to desist from such soapbox pyrotechnics, neither Hisham, nor UMNO Youth, nor the Prime Minister himself altered course: UMNO Youth was allowed a free hand to make such outrageous ethnic-communitarian demands at a time when MCA, Gerakan and MIC wished to assert their identity as equal partners of the BN. It seemed almost as if by raising the keris in the way that he did, Hisham was indicating that UMNO Youth was more important than the other non-Malay component parties, and this repeated act of defiance drove in the nails in the coffins of the MCA, Gerakan and MIC respectively.

Crucially the one person who could have said and done something to stop the erosion of the MCA, Gerakan and MIC’s credibility was Prime Minister Badawi; who could simply have pulled the reins on the hot-heats and chest-thumpers of UMNO Youth. Yet even Badawi stood paralysed, allowing them to raise the ante further. This apparent paralysis on the part of Prime Minister Badawi rendered null and void his now-vacuous claim that he was the ‘Prime Minister of all Malaysians’. If he was indeed such a universal leader-figure, then why did this ‘Prime Minister of all Malaysians’ do nothing and say nothing when the younger leaders of his own party were raising the spectre of racial supremacy before his very eyes?

Thus it can perhaps be said that the election results of 2008 are an indicator of the extent to which MCA, Gerakan and MIC have been seen as the running dogs of UMNO in a BN coalition that has grown more and more unbalanced in the eyes of so many. Playing around with kerises is something you do in old movies about silat warriors, but not in the context of modern-day Malaysian politics where respect for cultural diversity and the equal pride and status of all communities should be paramount. The hot-heads in UMNO Youth may have been playing to the Malay gallery when they pulled the stunt of drawing the keris in public, but the catastrophic damage they did to the image and standing of their component BN partners was beyond calculation. In the end, however, it is not the keris, but rather the clumsy hand that wields it that is to be blamed. UMNO’s two-faced management of race-relations, which was flawed from the outset, has undone itself and the BN. To quote the popular refrain: “Padan Muka”.

Dr. Farish A. Noor is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore; and one of the founders of the www.othermalaysia.org research site.
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Don't assemble outside palace, warn police

Don't assemble outside palace, warn police
Mar 13, 08 2:46pm

The police have warned the public not to assemble outside Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, this afternoon.

Stating that stern action would be taken against those who do, Perak police chief Zulkefli Abdullah said the public should not be influenced by text messages calling on the Malays to gather outside the palace.

He said no permit or application had been granted for any assembly, adding that action would also be taken against the organisers.

"Police will take action on those holding any assembly anywhere because it will lead to an undesireable outcome," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He was commenting on the spread of text messages calling on the Malays to a rally at Istana Iskandariah to protest against the DAP "for challenging Malay supremacy."

[Full report to follow]

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Still Blind to Reality!

Still Blind to Reality!
Posted by Raja Petra
Thursday, 13 March 2008

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Indeed, the infighting has already begun. It starts out small, naturally enough, in the tiny state of Perlis where there is now an ugly tussle for the chief minister’s post. Soon the crisis will spread, of trying to find scapegoats for the party’s humiliations and over the dwindling goodies.

M. Bakri Musa

If Abdullah Badawi could not leverage the huge mandate he received in 2004 into effective leadership, there is little hope that he could do any better now that he had been severely mauled in the last election. Those who think otherwise are merely deluding themselves and engaging in wishful thinking.

All the top leaders of UMNO are afflicted by this collective blindness, a wilful refusal to see or even acknowledge this evident reality; they are engulfed in mass denial.

Of course, the likes of Najib Razak and Rafidah Aziz would unhesitatingly and shamelessly grovel themselves up to Abdullah; after all they serve at his pleasure. Najib in particular does not want to disturb the current pattern, knowing full well that this would be Abdullah’s last term and that he will take over after that. If Abdullah were to fumble now, there is no assurance that he would not take the whole crowd –that would include Najib – with him.

What amazes me, however, is when the likes of Shahrir Samad tried to spin the recent election debacle into something else. He would like us believe that it was actually a positive development, the “maturing” of Malaysian society the consequence of Abdullah’s “enlightened” leadership! The surprise was that he could utter that ridiculous claim with a straight face!

Maybe Shahrir felt beholden to Abdullah for having been selected as a parliamentary candidate. Shahrir knows only too well the fate that befell lawyer Zaid Ibrahim. Zaid was one of the few UMNO MPs who had the courage to criticise or at least disagree with Abdullah; consequently Abdullah dropped him as a candidate this time around. Shahrir is drawing the wrong lesson. He should instead recall that Zaid’s stock soared afterwards. He was, among other things, named one of Asia’s top philanthropists. And with UMNO being thrashed, Zaid must thank his lucky stars to have been spared the massacre in Kelantan. God works in wonderful ways!

Then there is the hogwash circulating that it was not poor Abdullah’s fault for the electoral humiliation rather his advisors. How convenient! These Abdullah’s apologists are beginning to believe their own spin. Abdullah’s advisors reflect on Abdullah; like begets like, meaning, Abdullah has dumb advisors because he himself is dumb. Getting rid of his present advisors would not solve anything; he will get other dumb ones!

It is not just voters who have passed judgement on Abdullah’s leadership, so have investors. Trading on the KL stock market had to be temporarily suspended on the Monday following the election. Try spinning that!

It is well to remember that voters’ judgement is based on Abdullah’s past performance. The stock market however is based on expectations. They are declaring that Abdullah remaining as leader would be a disaster, and they are betting their money on that.

Lame Duck Prime Minister

What happens to Abdullah as a person does not interest me in the least; the fate of Malaysia does. Abdullah is now reduced to being a lame duck leader. The longer he hangs on, the more damage he would inflict on his party and country.

If Abdullah does not step down now, Malaysia will in effect have no chief executive. The whole Cabinet and indeed the entire government machinery would be consumed with a leadership struggle, both overt and covert, right till the upcoming UMNO General Assembly this August. Nothing substantive would be done, not that Abdullah was an effective executive at the best of time. Everyone would be jockeying for position. It is this uncertainty that is so corrosive to investor confidence.

Indeed, the infighting has already begun. It starts out small, naturally enough, in the tiny state of Perlis where there is now an ugly tussle for the chief minister’s post. Soon the crisis will spread, of trying to find scapegoats for the party’s humiliations and over the dwindling goodies. It would not be pretty.

Whatever economic, political and other gains that Abdullah’s hacks and family members hope to gain by his stubbornly clinging to power would vanish just as quickly with his toppling. Remember how quickly they tried to humiliate Mahathir once he stepped down, and he was a very strong leader. He fought back. Abdullah is spineless; he could not even stand up to the chief minister of a tiny state like Perlis. Abdullah would be piled on so quickly and so mercilessly once he is forced down such that the likes of me would be forced to take pity on the poor soul.

New Political Dynamics

This election alters fundamentally the political dynamics at the federal, state, and most importantly, the local levels. This harsh reality has not yet to sink on UMNO operatives. The loss of five states, especially the three most industrialized – Perak, Penang and Selangor – will have severe ramifications, far more than the loss of the two-third supra-majority in Parliament.

All the major economic initiatives (the various “development corridors” except perhaps for the IDR project) previously announced by Abdullah would require agreement from the involved state governments. Now that those states are controlled by the opposition, approvals would not be automatic.

While previous UMNO or Barisan Nasional chief ministers would readily kowtow to Abdullah (after all he appointed them), the likes of Khalid Ibrahim (Chief Minister of Selangor) or Lim Guan Eng (Penang) would have no such deference. They would demand, among other things, that the various contracts be subjected to competitive biddings. That would immediately dry up the hitherto steady stream of bounties that used to flow the way of UMNO cronies.

Those previously fat UMNO cats would quickly be reduced to angry and hungry mangy felines, viciously fighting each other up for the rapidly dwindling morsels.

An UMNO Mat Deros who could previously have bulldozed his way through the local council or state government merely by showing those cowed officials pictures of him performing umrah with Abdullah, would now find the going rough. As for the real Mat Deros, now dead, watch his estate being saddled with unpaid assessments, plus penalties. It would not surprise me that the infamous mansion in Klang to be cited for non compliance with local building codes and therefore had to be torn down.

Rest assured that all those powerful UMNO ministers and functionaries wishing to have their own mansions in the cities of the states controlled by the opposition would no longer get sweetheart deals, where valuable crown lands would be handed to them at cut-rate prices a la Mat Deros. They would heap their frustrations on Abdullah. It would be tough on them and Abdullah, but good for Malaysia. That is one positive development of this election.