August 20, 2008
Can you guys stop politicizing the Saiful-Anwar issue? It’s clear that it’s a personal matter between them. After all, I firmly believe my UMNO leaders when almost all of them, from Badawi, Najib, Ezam, Rais say so. Read Howsy’s Everything Also “Personal Matter” for proof. Therefore, they say that Saiful should not be a factor in the Permatang Pauh by-elections.
The “angelic-faced” Saiful doing his deed. Pics credit straitstimes.com
To hammer home the point, here’s what UMNO is doing:
Saiful ‘appears’ to garner votes
The handsome Saiful Bukhari Azlan has been making ‘nightly appearances’ in Permatang Pauh as his swearing on the Quran over his sodomy claims has fast become a topic of much discussion among voters.
…
Just a stone’s throw away is the old family home of Datuk Rahim Ghouse – a local big name and Anwar loyalist – which has been turned into a PKR campaign stop. The colonial-style mansion, normally dark and gloomy, has come alive with lights and people.
But the Umno camp has grabbed attention along the street with the nightly appearance of Saiful Bukhari Azlan, or rather, the nightly screening of Saiful Bukhari Azlan swearing on the Quran that he was sodomised by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The video has been played over and over again on the screen through the night.
By now, most people in the vicinity would probably have memorised the actual words recited by Saiful, including the highly-explicit phrase of how Anwar had put his **** into Saiful’s ****.
Some found the explicit part in bad taste, others thought it was plain vulgar. A few thought the 23-year-old boy was trying to further sensationalise the issue.
– TheStar.com.my
Some of you might criticize this as not practicing what you preach, but as an UMNO-loyalist, I must tell you that UMNO is not doing this for political gain. UMNO is doing this to remind the voters continuously that Saiful should not be a factor. It’s a personal matter after all.
And what do I REALLY feel about this “Saiful on video” episode? Mind your own business. It’s a personal matter.
August 20, 2008
Do all UiTM students share the same views? If you’ve had any experience with dealing with probability, the answer would certainly be no. To say all UiTM students are insecure or racist or narrow-minded based on the actions of a few thousand students (and their UMNO-loving vice-chancellor) would be over-generalizing. However, it cannot be denied that UiTM’s reputation among the 30-40% non-Malay population in this country has taken a big dive (just ask around).
After reading many news reports and some blogs regarding the issue, those supporting the protesting students cite reasons why UiTM should not be open to non-Malays. To put it simply, here are some of the common ‘reasons’:
1) UiTM is protected under Article 153. Therefore, no one should question the constitution.
2) Malay rights should not be questioned.
That’s it. Basically, most of the reasons why 10% should NOT be opened to other races is only to protect this thing called the “Malay rights”.
Are they wrong? In my opinion, yes. If they were to argue that letting in 10% will erode the reputation and credibility of the institution (and provide proof), then I can accept. If they were to argue that letting in 10% will cause the academic performance of UiTM to suffer, then I can accept. But to argue only on the basis of the rights of one race over the others, I find that reason too flimsy.
I believe that there are certainly more credible reasons to actually allow 10%, but I wanted to hear from UiTM students themselves about this. Therefore, in my initial post regarding the UiTM protests, I had asked the UiTM students who didn’t agree with the protests to speak up and be heard.
Here is a dissenting voice from reader suealeen:
UiTM Juniors… Think Before You Act!
Another blogger, Kai left the following comment:
I am a Universiti Teknologi Mara [UiTM] student. A law student to be exact. But I don’t agree with the over reaction of my fellow UiTM students.
Personally, I do think that it is a great IDEA to open up 10% of the quota. Besides integration, it will definitely give UiTM a new way of work and study culture as well as a very good competition among students.
It is just 10% and there is nothing to shout about… Or maybe, is it because [like a friend of mine said] these students [who thought they are heroes championing UiTM] are afraid that if the quota is to be opened, then 10% of top places in exam results will be monopolized by non-Bumiputeras? If that’s the reason, then it is good. It will make Bumiputera students study harder to gain good grades.
I was thinking after reading the newspaper, will the reaction be the same if UMNO leaders are the one who made such statement? I don’t think so… Even there was not as much fuss as this time when Dr. Mahathir first made such statement in 2003 [as reported in today's Star].
Maybe the real reason the students gathered at the SUK that morning was to skip their class.. Lectures in UiTM start at 8.30 a.m until 10.30 a.m for the first session and 10.30 a.m to 12.30 p.m for the second session.
As the ‘Perhimpunan’ was held from 7.00 am to 10.30 am, well, maybe the crowd who went there were those who had classes at 8.30 - 10.30… Haha.. Just a wild assumption. It might not be true.. ;p
Anyway, not all students actually disagree with the suggestion by the MB. Some of us really think that we need to mingle. I asked my friends and most of them supported the idea. After all, the students had been pampered and spoon fed for so long and a new culture need to be inculcate so that the students will be ready to face the globalisation world that await them [including me, of course..].
And I can’t help but to say, how paranoid the 5000 students who demonstrated and the VC was… I mean, it was just a mere suggestion and they know that the MB can’t do anything more than just, well,… talk. So, what’s the fuss all about?
But to be honest, not all UiTM students are that racists and second class. I could read law at other institutions with my grades, but as UiTM law faculty is among the most established law faculty in Malaysia, I read law here. Even when people asked me many times why I chose UiTM, when I told them I read law here, they understand me. And that is why, I love the university.
But to my fellow friends, please don’t over react… Act wisely… If you can demonstrated for UiTM, where were you when students from other institutions demonstrated in front of the Parliament regarding AUKU?…. -_-
As if suddenly more silent voices were clamoring to be heard, another UiTM student wrote a letter to Haris Ibrahim’s People’s Parliament blog. However, there is a minor something that I do not agree with the letter writer, which is this:
And the sad thing is, there is little avenue for any of them to express themselves in the University or externally. With the little avenue available, those that attempt to express themselves are usually met with threats and childish arguments.
To the letter writer, if he/she is reading this, you have an avenue. It is called the Internet. It is better to speak up if you feel strongly about it, rather than stay silent. Start a blog, share your comments, start a Facebook group, whatever, as long as you can proudly say to yourself that you have spoken up and done all you can.
The only people who can repair the damage to UiTM’s reputation are the UiTM students themselves. Therefore, to those who want to share their dissenting voices, I dedicate this post to you. You own this space to express yourself, so use it.
If you want to argue in favor of the protesting students, sure, go ahead. But please don’t give me any reasons that are linked solely to Malay rights. I already know what you want to say.
August 19, 2008
During the nomination day for the Permatang Pauh by-elections, PKR supporters have been accused of a multitude of misdeeds from the assault of photographers, to the fondling of Puteri UMNO member’s buttocks.
Of cause, this was played up by ALL the government-owned media from the TV to the newspapers, we wouldn’t expect anything less.
Najib then complained about the acts of PKR supporters, as if BN supporters were the type who were classy to begin with. If one needs proof, one just has to google “Ijok violence” and you’ll get evidence.
Now, here is some ‘public pornography’ that the government-owned press won’t EVER show you:
Badawi always said, Saiful will never be a factor for the BN, as it is a private matter. Don’t kid yourself la, Mr. Prime Minister.
Pics taken by the Malaysian for Free & Fair Election website, which I got from Susan Loone’s website.
August 16, 2008
In this part, we will look at how Saiful Bukhari will be used as a weapon against Anwar Ibrahim.
Charging Anwar Ibrahim in court over alleged sodomy of Saiful is already highly irregular, because he was not charged with sodomy assault, as claimed by Saiful in his police report. Instead, Anwar was charged with the more ‘general’ crime of committing sodomy. In my opinion, this has very much to do with the police failing to procure any material evidence that the sodomy did occur, so the whole court case will be based on circumstantial evidence, with Saiful being the star witness.
Somehow, this charge was meant to discredit Anwar in the eyes of the people as a sexual deviant. Whether this would work with the voters in Permatang Pauh is a mystery to me, but going by a recent survey by the Merdeka Research Center, there is probably a certain percentage (10% or 20%? I forget) that believe those charges are real. Stupid blind fucks for not seeing the obvious set-up.
Now, one day before the nomination day, Saiful has finally reappeared in public after disappearing for more than a month! How convenient! In a press conference, Saiful has let the world know that he has sworn on the Quran and that he was indeed fucked by Anwar Ibrahim in the ass non-consensually. He has also denied that the timing of the press conference was politically motivated to get more people to believe that Anwar is a sexual deviant.
Here is the press conference in video, with a recording of him swearing on the Quran.
For those of you that are lazy to watch the videos, here are excerpts of the press conference, that I plucked from Malaysiakini.
Where have you been hiding all this time?
Saiful: I’ve not been hiding but I was quietly gathering enough courage to answer all the allegations against me, especially by Anwar Ibrahim.
Klaw: And yet, you have not answered any allegations beside swearing on the Quran. What gives?
Why did you pick today and the FT Mosque?
Saiful: I’ve been intending to do this for some time now but it needs mental and spiritual strength as taking an oath is not something trivial or easy. The consequences can be very dire in the eyes of God. Nevertheless, Allah has given me the strength to take the oath today.
Klaw: *spits the water he was drinking in surprise* If you really were sodomized, then how hard is it to make an oath? Only a person planning to make a false oath would WORRY about the consequences. Berani kerana benar, berdolak-dalih kerana ada benda untuk disembunyi.
Is it because tomorrow is the nomination date for Permatang Pauh by-election?
Saiful: No.
Klaw: That was *really* believable.
Was it consensual?
Saiful: I wish to stress here that it was done without my consent.
Klaw: Then as a good Muslim, Malay, and Malaysian (his own words in his declaration), you should not participate in Anwar Ibrahim’s trial because they are charging him under the wrong law!
The timing of your swearing is very close to the nomination date for the Permatang Pauh by-election. Please explain.
Saiful: It’s all a coincidence. We don’t know that Anwar is going to contest and I wish to stress here that I need strength and God has given it to me now. It so happens that it is Friday today.
Klaw: You didn’t know that Anwar was going to contest? Funny how he wished Anwar the following in his blog: “Kepada DSAI, saya mengucapkan selamat bertanding.”
So there, a press conference where not much is answered, filled with odd inconsistencies that make him seem less believable.
I want to end this by asking any Muslim readers: Does Saiful Bukhari swearing on the Quran make him more believable? I am not Muslim, but if it were me, I would totally think him swearing on the Quran has no effect at all. First of all, we don’t know how God-fearing he really is, and a liar who doesn’t fear God will always have no problem swearing on a book that he doesn’t believe in. Let me know in the comments.
Other parts of the series
Introduction
#1: Elections Commission Inconveniences Voters
#2: The Saiful Bukhari Factor (Current)
August 16, 2008
In this part, we will look at how even before the nomination and polling days, the Elections Commission is already throwing a spanner into Anwar’s bid to re-enter Parliament.
The Elections Commission, which is supposed to be an independent body, is known to be friendly to the present administration, and you would expect the EC to find ways to help Dollah Badawi’s gang.
By announcing the polling date to be August 26th 2008, which is a Tuesday, this has been widely seen as an attempt to reduce PKR’s winning majority of 13,000+ voters from the previous election. Announcing polling day on a weekday is at best an arbitrary decision that makes no sense, as there is no problem if they wanted to hold it on the 23rd, 24th, or the 30th of August. Why not the weekends? No one can answer except for the people inside the Elections Commission making these decisions (probably with ’suggestions’ from their BN friends).
Everyone can see that this is a blatant attempt to inconvenience the voters, most of whom are probably blue and white collar workers. Now they will have to face a choice: Take a precious half-day leave and vote, or save the precious leave day, thinking that Anwar will win anyway. This is an extremely dangerous choice because it will reduce the voter turnout, and will lead people into complacency into thinking Anwar is a sure win, thus not bothering to vote out of arrogance.
The Pakatan Rakyat-led Penang government has mulled over declaring that day a public holiday to increase voter turnout, but good sense prevailed when they decided against it. Don’t want people to accuse you of misuse of power after all, right?
So will complacency and arrogance derail Anwar’s bid? I have no idea, but looks like the Elections Commission is hoping it will. Do the right thing, Permatang Pauh!
Other parts of the series
Introduction
#1: Elections Commission Inconveniences Voters (Current)
#2: The Saiful Bukhari Factor
August 16, 2008
I am starting a multi-part series of posts to document the tactics that have been taken by the Barisan Nasional machinery to derail Anwar’s bid to re-enter Parliament via the Permatang Pauh by-elections.
Unlike many of you in the country who are confident that Anwar Ibrahim will win handily in Permatang Pauh, I have deep reservations about Anwar winning it easily. This is because of the simple fact that BN controls the government, the supposedly independent bodies like the Elections Commission and the police, the media, and most importantly, they control all the money.
What Anwar Ibrahim has going for him is the deep disillusionment that the people have against the government and the people’s desire for change for a better government. But will this be enough when it comes to crunch time, when there is a chance that the people will vote with their stomachs instead of their hearts?
This multi-part series will be added to as time progresses from nomination day, which is on 16th August all the way till polling day, which is the 26th of August. Most of it you will be aware of already, but I will be repeating some of it for the sake of documentation. Within this 10 days of campaigning, there will be a lot of mud-slinging, mostly from the BN side. Stay tuned as we head towards 26th August 2008, and I hope to see Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament soon.
If you know anyone eligible to vote in Permatang Pauh, I urge you to talk to the person continuously on the need for this country to change, to believe that our country can be better than it is now. Don’t take for granted that they will vote for Anwar, make sure of it!
Other parts of the series
Introduction (Current)
#1: Elections Commission Inconveniences Voters
#2: The Saiful Bukhari Factor
