Jed Yoong

He is the head honcho behind MCA’s and BN’s election media campaign out to “destroy” the Opposition, especially DAP.

He is also the guy whose paper didn’t print photos of the massive crowds at DAP ceramahs but instead those of some crowd in a BN rally in which Pak Lah attended.

His paper also published endless character assassinations on Anwar Ibrahim.

And that photo of Lim Kit Siang with a PAS flag towards polling date.

Why didn’t he interview Kit Siang, Guan Eng, Anwar, etc before the election?

Let’s not pretend Wong is some impartial, professional journalist. He didn’t even have the balls to ask his own questions in his interview with Guan Eng. You think readers can’t email Guan Eng these days to ask him such matters?

Raja Petra wrote an article in his popular political website, Malaysia Today, which mentioned that most DAP leaders and supporters oppose wearing the songkok at official functions in the Istana. I think this is nothing new. It’s also nothing new that RPK has made a mountain out of this molehill to suggest that DAP is an anti-Islam party.

It’s accepted by most that the palaces have strict dress codes. Like the Brunei palace has some requirement to wear all black and all white or something like that. Also, if I remember correctly, women must wear skirts below the knees or even covering the ankles. It was a long time ago when I was asked to attend a function at the Brunei Palace. I think it’s ankle length and all black.

Additionally, there are lots of protocols to learn and I was required to attend a short course on it so I won’t screw up. As I am a person of minimum formality and an ardent believer of comfortable, casual dressing that suits our hot and humid weather, I suggested someone else go in my place. Plus, I may ask silly questions. Already I suspected I had semi-pissed the Palace off by asking if the absolute monarchy as practised in the country was better than democracy….Ha ha ha ha.

Those who refuse to wear the songkok will insist that they are not Muslims, which is a fair argument. Their traditional dress or a suit without a songkok should suffice. This is also the view of “modern” minds who oppose traditions for opposition sake.

On the other hand, like Raja Petra mentioned, is the fact that the Sultans’ are Muslims. So when in Rome does as Romans do. And I believe it’s simply good manners to respect the host, whether royalty or not.

I think the main problem is some DAP leaders may have gone on the overkill in their secular stance and their perjuangan (crusade) to defend Chinese culture that to suddenly wear the songkok, a move that they’ve criticised most of their political life, would just seem so glaringly hypocritical. The DAP now risks being labeled as being the same as the MCA.

I believe this is a good lesson and experience for both sides as more mingling among the different cultural groups will show how extreme certain arguments are. Whether defending the right of non-Muslims not to wear Islamic dress at official functions or pushing for “Malay rights” (which incidentally is a term not mentioned in the Federal Constitution) to ensure the survival of bangsa, agama and negara (race, religion and country).

Po Kuan collecting donations from the public at a ceramah in the Machap by-election last year. /JYPix

Favourite fruit: Rambutan

Favourite movie: Any movie, just goes in to watch any movie to relax

Favourite holiday destination: Places by the sea, on a beach

Favourite chill-out: Rest at home and catch up with family

Random update: The three-term Batu Gajah MP said she will still be staying in Ipoh to serve her constituents although her new husband is based in Johor. She is also very busy attending many events to thank the rakyat who voted her in again.

More @ 1. Her blog 2. Wikipedia

Is Lim also playing some games by supporting Teresa Kok for deputy MB against Teng Chang Khim, four-term Sungai Pinang state legislator and a lawyer by profession? Teng was the Opposition leader in the state assembly for two terms (1995-1999 and 2004-2008).

Haiyah, suddenly this Teresa Kok becomes deputy MB? She holds two seats-lar: Kinrara state and Seputeh parliament. WOW. I know-lah, she is a superwoman and very popular. Now with three official posts, also probably has very high allowances. State is RM5,000; parliament is RM12,000; deputy MB, any pay? The rates are about here-lah but I didn’t check. Those who know better please let me know.

It’s no secret that Teresa is among Lim’s inner circle and maybe even pet-lah. But she deserves to be a favourite for her performance.

Is it wise to have her hold THREE official posts — MP, ADUN and maybe now deputy MB? Don’t be power-crazy-lah, Sister Kok. She is Catholic, I heard.

Is this meritocracy, DAP?

First, the Fong Po Kuan incident.

Now, this seemingly unilateral decree by Dictator Lim Kit Siang to Perak DAP. Ngeh Koo Ham, who is state DAP chairperson and Sitiawan state legislator, has signed the submission of the three candidates to the Palace. So, I suspect Perak is also pissed off with Lim Kit Siang.

Also read on Husam Musa’s blog that DAP and PAS have worked things out and DAP (probably state) has accepted the PAS MB.

So the magic din happen after all and the DAP is stomping their feet.

What’s wrong with a PAS MB? Better than a PKR MB for sure.

There are many possible reasons why a PAS ADUN was chosen instead, my random guesses are

1. Guan Eng, new Penang CM and DAP secretary-general, freaked the royals out when he announced that he would do away with pro-Malay policies. If this happened in Perak, will the peace be maintained? It’s not Chinese-majority Penang where it’s simply a different world here.

2. The Perak royalty dun like PKR / Anwar /DAP.

3. It was a racist decision. They din want to give it to a Chinese.

4. PAS offered the royals a better deal than DAP.

5. DAP doesn’t know how to work with people outside their clique.

6. DAP doesn’t care about Malays / Islam.

7. DAP doesn’t care about the Istana. Quite obvious when they decided to ignore the Istana’s decision. More minus points. The Malays like royalty?

8. Ini semua permainan politik Barisan Nasional (All these are Barisan Nasional’s political games)…..

9. Of course, I missed this out earlier, that the PAS ADUN is simply the best choice.

My random take is that DAP may have no choice but to issue that statement on Lim Kit Siang’s blog ‘cos if they accept PAS, which is based on Islam, DAP will lose its raison d’etre (reason for being), which is to fight for a secular state against Islamisation. It’s very niche, I know. But pretty solid support it seems.

Actually, Husam Musa said some stuff about working together. But DAP just wants to be buddies with PKR, which has a lot of ex-UMNO types. I think DAP will be quite content to rule Penang forever. Just wait till PAS walks over to BN. But PAS has more integrity than that, right? They will probably lose lots of their core supporters, especially Kelantan. But would politicians care when offered millions and millions? I have to salute the informal Barisan Alternatif as none of its elected reps have jumped ship yet.

I know, I know. The rakyat voted right. As I write this post now, on the mainstream media — TV, newspapers, radio — the BN are whacking the BA. Phrases bandied about include “marriage of convenience”, “undi mengikut emosi, sentimen (voted based on emotions, sentiments)”, “mungkin ada parti yang akan menyertai Barisan Nasional untuk memperkukuhkan kemenangnan BN (maybe some parties may join BN to reinforce BN’s victory)”…etc.

In a way, the DAP is doing what it should. This sort of reaction may be what the grassroots want. That’s the DAP’s role. Or it was when it was in the Opposition. But when in government, what are the grassroots’ expectations?

***UPDATE***7.51PM

From Uncle Kit’s blog:

No DAP CEC mandate for PAS Menteri Besar in Perak

The decision to appoint a PAS Assemblyman Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak Mentri Besar has caused shock and consternation to DAP leaders, members and supporters.

The DAP Central Executive Committee, at its emergency meeting in Penang on Sunday, 9th March 2008, had given approval for the formation of a Perak coalition government comprising 18 DAP Assembly members, seven PKR Assemblymen and six PAS Assemblymen.

DAP is prepared to accept DAP chairman and Assemblyman for Sitiawan Ngeh Koo Ham or PKR Behrang Assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi as Perak Mentri Besar.

As the appointment of PAS Assemblyman for Pasir Panjang Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak Mentri Besar representing the third and smallest political party in the proposed coalition has not received the mandate of the CEC, DAP Perak Assemblymen will stay away from the swearing-in ceremony for Perak Mentri Besar scheduled tomorrow.

JY: What’s happening. Am gonna go makan now. Sigh. Life goes on. Remember peace is more important than power.

***UPDATE***7.30PM

Spoke to my source. Bless him. He maintains that Ngeh was supposed to be the first Christian MB in West Malaysia and attributes the change to “horse trading”…..

I think it’s better for the peace that the MB is Malay and Muslim. Politics is about perception…

***UPDATE*** 7.01PM

Actually Raja Petra of Malaysia Today thought Perak would go to DAP too…

Tomorrow, we should see the Selangor and Perak state governments getting sworn in. PKR will lead Selangor and DAP, Perak. That would mean two states would be led by PAS, two by DAP, with one for PKR.

So I think my source is right. Something might have happened. Maybe after Guan Eng’s drastic move to abolish pro-Malay policies in Penang scared ‘em Perak royals.

ORIGINAL POST 

OOOoooooPPPPppppSSSssss. I am not using that DAP source anymore, who is usually reliable. Malaysiakini’s report here.

What a boo-boo. Apologies to all.

Congrats to PAS. Thank God, someone who can keep the peace and speak Malay…..

DAP ceramah in Penang last night. Susan Loone reports 30,000 turned up in the party’s colours (red and white) to listen to Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng. Photo from TV Smith

Star:

The MCA has appealed to Chinese voters to support the party, saying a vote for the MCA would be a vote for the voice of the community in the Cabinet and state governments.

Malaysiakini:

A week later, Ong changed his tune and appealed for voters to “show mercy” and not allow MCA to “lose too badly”.

“If you have five people in your household, I plead to you to give one vote to MCA. We need your support to serve the people and bring about development.

“In our last outing, we lost three Kinta Valley seats. I hope that this time it won’t be so bad. We will fight for every vote until the last minute,” he told reporters.

JED YOONG: Remember to KICK MCA OUT OF GOVERNMENT. THEY WON’T BE THE CHINESE VOICE. AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT MY VOICE. They only know how to enrich themselves and cronies while non-bumiputera rights are snatched away and UMNO tramples on us. SAY NO TO THE VOICE OF UMNO.

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DAP icon and national leader Lim Kit Siang confirmed today that there is no co-operation among PAS, PKR and DAP under an umbrella body called the Barisan Rakyat.

“There is no such thing as Barisan Rakyat. DAP has no general election co-operation with PAS,” he said in a text message.

Commenting on a photograph of him with a PAS flag in the Labis parliamentary constituency in Johor published in The Star today, he said: “I was suprised myself. PAS is contesting the Tenang state seat inside Labis.”

According to Raja Petra Kamarudin, who edits top political website Malaysia Today, Barisan Rakyat is an initiative “by the civil society movements and bloggers after the 6 political parties endorsed the People’s Declaration“.

The DAP candidate for Labis is Teo Eng Ching, 32. She will be running against disgraced former Health Minister and Labis MP Chua Soi Lek’s son, Chua Tee Yong, 31. Soi Lek resigned from all government and party posts in January after DVDs of him having extra-marital sex were distributed in Johor. More here.

From Everibodi Lafu Rojaks:

This story i heard from my Ahbeng frend telling me his previous voting experience.

So 5 yrs ago he go to vote la … the upon arriving at the voting station he goan do checking whether his name is there anot … then he see there is one empty counter which belongs to PAS one tarak olang there … he fast fast go there to check la.

When he presented his IC that fler check and confirmed that he can vote at that place … then the PAS fler hand him back his IC and tell him lidis ….

PAS fler : Bang! Vote ini ok? Vote bulan mia! *while pointing at the PAS logo like the one below*

Ahbeng : Tak bleh … tak Bleh …. Aku sapot DAP mia!

PAS fler : Bang … ini bagus bang! Locket tarak best la bang!
Ahbeng : Salah lar lu! Locket ka bulan ka .. sama saja!
PAS fler : Mana sama bang?
Ahbeng : Kalo tarak Locket you think can goto bulan anot?!!
PAS fler :

Ha ha ha ha. Please check with DAP or any political parties. I am not funded by anyone except myself. I am independent. This is my pro bono for the country. And it doesn’t cost much. OK, maybe in terms of money-generating articles sacrificed, yes. But I believe it’s the little that I can do so that the rakyat will know more of the truth.

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WOW. Look at this billboard by Carol Chew of MCA, who is running against DAP incumbent Teresa Kok for the Seputeh parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur. The “sweet-looking” young thing obviously only has love on her mind.

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Incumbent Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok (DAP) confirmed today that there is no “DAP-PKR-PAS Opposition Pact”, in the sense that the parties are co-operating on a united front. They have agreed on seat allocations but “even then at some places, there are already three-way fights”.

I first came across this term this morning in a Malaysiakini article by Baradan Kuppusamy, a respected and senior political writer.

As far as I know and understand, there is no DAP-PKR-PAS Opposition Pact. They settled seat allocations. PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa told reporters on Tuesday in Kota Bahru that PAS and DAP were not working together.

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