KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's weak opposition was up against a hostile mainstream media and restrictive campaign rules, but it can chalk up much of its stunning success in Saturday's election to the power of cyberspace.
Voters exasperated with the unvarnished support of the mainstream media for the ruling National Front furiously clicked on YouTube and posted comments with popular bloggers about tales of sex, lies and videotapes in the run-up to Saturday's election.
Jeff Ooi, a 52-year-old former advertising copywriter who made his name writing a political blog, "Screenshots" (www.jeffooi.com) won a seat in northern Penang state for the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Elizabeth Wong, a human rights activist and political consultant who runs a blog (http://elizabethwong.wordpress.com), won a state assembly seat in the central state of Selangor.
YouTube, the phenomenally popular video Web site, did as much damage as any opposition figure could hope to inflict, after netizens uploaded embarrassing videos of their politicians in action on hot-button issues.
One YouTube video in January showed ruling party MP Badruddin bin Amiruldin causing a ruckus in parliament over whether Malaysia was an Islamic state. "Malaysia is an Islamic state," he declared. "You don't like it, you get out of Malaysia!"
Muslim Malays form the majority in multi-racial Malaysia, but ethnic Chinese and Indians account for a third of the population and they deserted the ruling National Front in droves, partly in outrage over the religious debate.
SEX, SLEAZE, CORRUPTION
Another YouTube video that got wide distribution shows a rambling and incoherent Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin, in a live interview with al-Jazeera, excitedly defending a police crackdown against peaceful protesters calling for changes to the electoral process in November.
Zainuddin was one of several "big guns" in the National Front that fell to the opposition's onslaught.
Sex, sleaze and corruption were election issues and they all had video soap operas on Web sites.
Malaysia's health minister resigned in January after admitting he and a female friend were the couple in a secretly filmed sex video uploaded on YouTube. That cost some votes.
"We were concerned about the morality of our leaders," said Maisarah Zainal, a 26-year-old teacher in Kuala Lumpur. "It didn't help that Chua Soi Lek was involved in a sex video."
Loh Gwo Burne, who secretly videotaped a phone conversation, allegedly showing a high-profile lawyer trying to fix judicial appointments with Malaysia's former chief judge, was elected to a seat in parliament from a seat in suburban Kuala Lumpur.
The grainy video hit a nerve in Malaysia, whose judiciary has been under question since the late 1980s.
Malaysia's blogging community offer alternative views in a country where the government keeps a tight control on mainstream media. The government said last year it might compel bloggers to register with the authorities to curb the spread of malicious content on the Internet.
Government backers doubt whether bloggers turned opposition politicians could make their presence felt. "Beyond the major cities like Kuala Lumpur and Penang, there's not much the bloggers can really hope to accomplish," says Mohamad Norza Zakaria, a leader in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's UMNO party.
The Chinese-backed DAP, by contrast, appointed blogger Ooi to head the party's "e-campaign."
Even a barely literate 89-year-old grandmother running for parliament with little money and only a bicycle to get around on, hopped the cyberspace bandwagon with a Facebook profile and her own blog, courtesy of some Internet savvy supporters. Mamin Yusuf, however, lost. It wasn't clear how many of her potential voters were hooked up to the Internet in northeastern Terengganu.
(REUTERS by Bill Tarrant)
Showing posts with label General Election 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Election 2008. Show all posts
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Letter from Anwar Ibrahim to the People of Malaysia
Hari ini, melalui kertas undi, anda telah mendengar suara hati anda dengan sepenuh tekad bahawa masa untuk perubahan sudah tiba.
Rakyat Malaysia telah bersuara. Ini adalah detik bersejarah, yang luar biasa dalam sejarah negara kita.
Hari ini lebaran baru telah dibuka. Rakyat telah mengundi dengan berani dan terbuka untuk melangkah ke satu era di mana kerajaan yang dibentuk mestilah bersifat terbuka dan mengiktiraf semua rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira agama, bangsa, dan budaya adalah satu rakyat yang bersatu.
Rakyat telah meluahkan tanpa sebarang ragu bahawa mereka tegas mahukan akauntabiliti, ketelusan dan kedaulatan undang-undang.
Hari ini, perpaduan dan persefahaman bersama antara rakyat telah menang.
Esok, kita akan memulakan gerak kerja untuk membina masa depan yang lebih cerah untuk rakyat Malaysia, dengan saling berpimpin tangan dan berganding bahu ke bahu.
Inilah harapan baru untuk Malaysia!
ANWAR IBRAHIM
A New Dawn for Malaysia
My fellow Malaysians,
Today at the ballot box, you listened to your heart with the firm conviction that the time for change has arrived.
The people of Malaysia have spoken. This is a defining moment, unprecedented in our nation’s history.
Today a new chapter has opened. The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognize that all Malaysians, regardless of race, culture and religion are a nation of one.
The people have expressed in no uncertain terms that they want accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
Today unity, consensus, and mutual respect triumphed.
Tomorrow, we start working to build a brighter future, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. This is a new dawn for Malaysia.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Rakyat Malaysia telah bersuara. Ini adalah detik bersejarah, yang luar biasa dalam sejarah negara kita.
Hari ini lebaran baru telah dibuka. Rakyat telah mengundi dengan berani dan terbuka untuk melangkah ke satu era di mana kerajaan yang dibentuk mestilah bersifat terbuka dan mengiktiraf semua rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengira agama, bangsa, dan budaya adalah satu rakyat yang bersatu.
Rakyat telah meluahkan tanpa sebarang ragu bahawa mereka tegas mahukan akauntabiliti, ketelusan dan kedaulatan undang-undang.
Hari ini, perpaduan dan persefahaman bersama antara rakyat telah menang.
Esok, kita akan memulakan gerak kerja untuk membina masa depan yang lebih cerah untuk rakyat Malaysia, dengan saling berpimpin tangan dan berganding bahu ke bahu.
Inilah harapan baru untuk Malaysia!
ANWAR IBRAHIM
A New Dawn for Malaysia
My fellow Malaysians,
Today at the ballot box, you listened to your heart with the firm conviction that the time for change has arrived.
The people of Malaysia have spoken. This is a defining moment, unprecedented in our nation’s history.
Today a new chapter has opened. The people have voted decisively for a new era where the government must be truly inclusive and recognize that all Malaysians, regardless of race, culture and religion are a nation of one.
The people have expressed in no uncertain terms that they want accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
Today unity, consensus, and mutual respect triumphed.
Tomorrow, we start working to build a brighter future, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. This is a new dawn for Malaysia.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What A Shame! - Malaysia Sleeping PM on the News Again
What a shame! All Malaysians should be shameful for having a sleeping PM at the helm. Pak Lah telah menjatuhkan maruah dan air muka kita di kalangan antarabangsa. Beliau sepatutnya berasa malu semalu-malunya!!! On 3rd March 2008, International Herald Tribune (IHT) titled "Seeking re-election, Malaysia's leader denies sleeping on the job" should ring an alarm bell to us -- that our PM is really "sleeping" during his tenure as PM. People is tired of all the empty promises and propaganda given by the leaders of the mis-government during this General Election campaign. All the BN leaders should be ashame for having work with him. Asyik tidur aje! Pak Lah has to go this time. Sorry. Selamat jalan! Let the opposition takes over this time!
The IHT news could be read here.
And, this is the proof of our sleeping PM. Judge it yourself.
The IHT news could be read here.
And, this is the proof of our sleeping PM. Judge it yourself.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Ezam Mohd Nor of GERAK on BN Corruption
RASUAH MUSUH NO.1 NEGARA!
Great and emotional speech by Ezam Mohd Nor, the Chairman of Gerakan Demokrasi dan Anti Korupsi (GERAK), after the defeat of PKR's candidate at Ijok by-election in April, 2007. Will you vote for this kind of mis-government? God please save our country! Open the eyes of those who are still deceived by the mass propaganda from the mainstream media in our beloved country Malaysia. BN has more than enough phantom votes (undi hantu) already. We Malaysians, as people of integrity must unite our powers to vote for opposition this time. DAP, PKR, PAS sama saja, as long as they can catch the big sharks that are threatening us and defend our most fundamental rights.
Below are some of the undi hantu in Rembau, parliament seat contested by the infamous and samseng "Son-in-law", aka "The Monkey" at Tingkat 4, Khairy Jamaluddin. All these hantu are more than 100 years old. Keep the faith and pray hard so that these hantu won't haunt us during this General Election. You can verify this at Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) website at http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftarbi.asp
890211050014 @ 1307762
961022505236 @ A7023350
971219750079 @ 0902843
991230710156 @ 2024648
991025740081 @ 0216550
Great and emotional speech by Ezam Mohd Nor, the Chairman of Gerakan Demokrasi dan Anti Korupsi (GERAK), after the defeat of PKR's candidate at Ijok by-election in April, 2007. Will you vote for this kind of mis-government? God please save our country! Open the eyes of those who are still deceived by the mass propaganda from the mainstream media in our beloved country Malaysia. BN has more than enough phantom votes (undi hantu) already. We Malaysians, as people of integrity must unite our powers to vote for opposition this time. DAP, PKR, PAS sama saja, as long as they can catch the big sharks that are threatening us and defend our most fundamental rights.
Below are some of the undi hantu in Rembau, parliament seat contested by the infamous and samseng "Son-in-law", aka "The Monkey" at Tingkat 4, Khairy Jamaluddin. All these hantu are more than 100 years old. Keep the faith and pray hard so that these hantu won't haunt us during this General Election. You can verify this at Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) website at http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/daftarbi.asp
890211050014 @ 1307762
961022505236 @ A7023350
971219750079 @ 0902843
991230710156 @ 2024648
991025740081 @ 0216550
Gerakan Member Speaks For PKR's Candidate Tian Chua
BN is rotten to the core. Let's boldly change the current mis-government.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Perseverance - DAP Election Song
To all opposition candidates -- this song is for you. You all are the real fighters for the future of Malaysia.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Grudge Between Pak Lah & Dr Mahathir
Dr Mahathir said Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim is innocent, finally.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Ceramah Tony Pua at SS2 Pasar Malam
WE WANT CHANGE! WE WANT CHANGE! WE WANT CHANGE! -- Already people are comparing Tony Pua with Barack Obama.
Part 2 of the Ceramah could be found at http://www.malaysiakini.tv
Part 2 of the Ceramah could be found at http://www.malaysiakini.tv
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
People of Taiping - Vote for Nga Kor Ming of DAP
2007十大杰出青年 -- 倪可敏 will speak up for you and for us in the parliament. Defending our basic rights as the citizen of Malaysia.
Vote for Tony Pua Kiam Wee (DAP PJ Utara Candidate)
（八打靈再也訊）有了未來50年的生活儲備金後，行動黨秘書長經濟顧問潘儉偉無後顧之憂地從政。他從政的理念很簡單也很踏實，即參與政策擬定，幫助更多人。
潘儉偉今年1月加入行動黨後，即成為該黨其中一顆耀眼新星。傳言他今屆大選將攻打八打靈再也北區國會議席，與周美芬一較高低。
傳攻靈北挑戰周美芬
詢及若是真的上陣八打靈再也北區，他的勝算如何時？他說，這是一場勢均力敵的戰役。
“她是市民尊敬的領袖，很多人說她是有做工的國會議員。這次她發生車禍，我們也關心她的情況。”
不過，他想強調的是，國會議員的職責最主要是處理政策事務，路燈、水溝、路面有洞是市議會的工作，不是國會議員的職責。
議員不只是處理路燈
“我們選一位國會議員，只為了要多一些路燈，或平坦的路面，這對我們國會議員的了解和要求太低了。當然，服務也是一定要的，但地方的服務工作是不足夠的。”
他認為，國會議員是把民生帶上國會，然後擬定保護國家的政策，如關注及處理回教化政策、新經濟政策、種族化的政治等所引發的問題。
提及周美芬車禍意外事件或為她帶來同情票，提高她個人優勢，他不否認有這樣的可能性，不過，這事件也為周美芬帶來不便。
自小受政治熏陶
潘儉偉希望自己可以在國會發出反對的聲音，這種理想，是他自小受到政治熏陶，近幾年來的政治發展是促成他加入行動黨的要素。
當年，潘儉偉還在讀上午班，每天陪著父親四處送雞蛋，而且常聽他聊起我國政治情況，尤其是85年的合作社風暴所造成的影響。
他說，他最常聽到林吉祥和卡巴星兩個名字及兩人為了一些事件被內安法令扣留的故事。
“當時就覺得他們非常偉大，除了名譽和民眾的致謝，他們所做的並沒為個人帶來任何利益。那時候，我感覺自己大了也要做些好事。”
曾對政府抱很大期望
“首相阿都拉上台時，我對他有很大的期望，我對凱里也有蠻大的信心，相信他會有新馬來人的新視野及國際觀。”
他說，若當時政府叫他加入有關政策的研究委員會，他會考慮加入，因為政府所發出的願景很可信，讓人很有信心及很大的期望。
“我對2006年初的內閣重組抱著很大的期望，但出來的名單只有一兩個人改變而已。我對政府失去信心，要加入國陣是沒有可能的。”
加入執政黨不如打高球
他續說，“我覺得你講得這麼多，給人家這麼大的希望，卻甚麼事都做不到，你的結構和制度都有問題。”
他說，他也瞭解民政和馬華黨內的政治文化，但他覺得自己在這些黨內的貢獻與付出是有限的。
“我覺得要我加入執政黨，不如我每天去打高爾夫球，不用去浪費這些時間。”
他說，有些事執政黨做得到反對黨做不到，但有些事是執政黨應該做的，卻沒有做到。
在乎聲音能否被聽見
加入公正黨或行動黨，潘儉偉考量的是他在黨內的聲音是否有人聽見，其付出是否有人珍惜；在黨外，其政治聲音也須能被聽到。
他說，他和反對黨領袖林吉祥和林冠英多次接觸後，讓他覺得舒服，而且覺得自己對該黨也會有所貢獻。
新經政策窮人未受惠
潘儉偉指出，新經濟政策強調的是幫助馬來人，而不是窮人；只有影響力或是聰明的馬來人才懂得使用這種政策幫助自己，而這些人屬於少數。
他指出，反對黨強調的是政府必須把新經濟政策改成‘幫助貧窮人’的政策，貧窮的馬來人才會受惠，貧窮的華人和印度人也能獲益。
“我們並沒有反對幫馬來人，我們反對的是幫助富有的馬來人，就如有能力購買25萬令吉屋子的土著，不應獲得5至7%的折扣。”
姓名：潘儉偉 (http://www.tonypua.com)
出生日期：1972年8月1日
出生地：峇株峇轄
籍貫：潮州
學歷：
Montfort 小學
新加坡萊佛士學院
牛津大學，哲學、政治及經濟系學士學位
從政資歷：
2007年1月加入民主行動黨
任行動黨秘書長經濟顧問
行動黨白沙羅支部主席
行動黨雪州州委 （星洲日報•2008.01.06）
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
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