Posted on by Kit

KT by-election – Najib not campaigning as DPM and police should not apply double-standards

The police in Kuala Terengganu by-election campaign should not apply double standards and should treat Datuk Seri Najib Razak as one of the party leaders in town for the by-election and not as a Deputy Prime Minister or Prime Minister-elect.

At a time when the retiring Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is trying to give new life to his National Integrity Plan and anti-corruption efforts in his last three months in office, the way the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is conducted will be a test as to whether his national integrity efforts and the newly-minted Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have any real meaning.

For instance, would the police in Kuala Terengganu treat Najib at par with other party leaders, whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, for the duration of the by-election, as there is no business for a Deputy Prime Minister to be campaigning in Kuala Terengganu in his official capacity.

Najib is in Kuala Terengganu as UMNO Deputy President and Barisan Nasional Deputy Chairman and not as Deputy Prime Minister, and this distinction must be scrupulously observed not only by the police and all relevant government departments but also by Najib himself!

Najib should dispense with the horde of police outriders during his visit to Kuala Terengganu to show that he is not abusing his powers and be an example to all other Ministers and VIPs – that they should not misuse scarce police personnel and resources in having to provide outriders and escorts.

Najib should issue a clear directive that during the duration of the by-election, no police outriders or escorts would be provided to Cabinet Ministers or what-not VIPs for they will be campaigning in their party capacities.

Or is this one reason for sending 6,000 police reinforcements to Kuala Trengganu for the by-election, more to provide escort-riders and VIPs to the horde of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other BN VIPs expected to descend on Kuala Terengganu during the 11-day by-election campaign?

This is why the police arrest of five members of Parti Keadilan Rakyat youth wing, including the Terengganu Youth chief Faris Musa, is a matter of grave concern.

Is this already proof of police double standards in the Kuala Terengganu by-election?

Why should the five be arrested for putting up posters of murdered Mongolian national Altantunya Shaariibuu as part of the Kuala Terengganu by-election campaign starting tomorrow, just because Najib will be in town for the by-election nomination tomorrow?

Furthermore, will the MACC be in Kuala Terengganu to take action against all those guilty of electoral offences corrupting the voting the process – as for instance the public pledge by the Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said that the state government would spend RM5.8 million to repair drains and roads and carry out several small projects in Kuala Terengganu provided the Barisan Nasional candidate wins?

This is money politics and political corruption at their most blatant. If the MACC is as indifferent and impotent as the previous Anti-Corruption Agency to such blatant electoral corruption, there cannot be a worse start for the new MACC which is supposed to be another ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong) in its first week of establishment!

54 Replies to “KT by-election – Najib not campaigning as DPM and police should not apply double-standards”

  2. Had Obama been even remotely linked to Altantunya Shaariibuu, he would not be US President-elect today, but slaving away as a shoe-shine boy in New York. This is what true democracy is about.

  3. Well done LKS – chengho is right, there is nothing you can do, besides what you are doing now. Point out the corruption and incompetence, and make sure it is well documented. People must have good information on which to make their election judgements on, so keep on collecting, keep on drawing attention to it.

    Malaysians have been subjected to totalitarian propaganda for so long, it’s difficult for them to believe there is anything wrong, or to correctly attribute blame if there is. Change will come.

  5. I think Najib and the rest of the BN jokers should continue using police outriders and especially those in black leather jacket, jeans and black super bikes (called the UTK, also well known because the 2 cops that is charged for murder of Altantuya comes from this unit).

    Why?

    There will be this strange feeling of anger in the ppl when see this jokers pushing other road users into the ditch to get to places to shake hand with the same road users which they push into the ditch.

    And also, God forbid the trigger happy police in Batu Buruk who shot 2 orang Trengganu in 2007 strikes again. So Najib and other “vips” need human shields.

    Oh wait.. the shooter and the bodyguards wear same uniform….

  6. Will police officers in charge….understand simple logics?
    Will they perform as police officers to leave politics out of their minds?
    Will they stop using tear gas and water cannons ….treating Malaysians like animals….on peaceful gatherings?
    Will they defend the helpless…from their unfair…unjust..l Commander in Chief?
    You answers will let you conclude ..will police treat Najib like a DPM in Terengganu by-election or not.

  7. Bro Kit,

    As OrangRojak says, keep pointing out what the the BN (read: UMNO) does during the campaigning period. Actually, they have alreday been campaigning since their candidate was announced!
    Malaysians are not that stupid. We see what they are doing. Now RTM 1 has a daily program at 10:30pm (starting tonight) everday for this By-election! We alreday know what crap they are going to show us. Shaberry side-stepped the issue when he was asked if the Opposition were going to be be treatde fairly!
    Keep on doing this UMNO, we see what you are doin & we will vote for PAS!

  9. Pakatan Rakyat Leaders,

    Please do remember to take down the name of the OCPD who has misused his power by invoking a wrongful arrest on the by-election campaign workers from the Opposition camp. It will always not be too late for the prospective Pakatan Rakyat Federal Government to carry out a prosecuting process on the alleged OCPD in court someday in the future. The day will come… I am very sure about it!

  10. Together For 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia as 1 United Bangsa Malaysia

    5 January 2009

    Not campaigning as DPM and PM Designate in KT By-Election and Power Abuse

    Dear YB LKS and All Malaysians,

    It is a game of WINNERS TAKE IT ALL and the LOOSERS LOOSE IT ALL!

    In order to survive 1 needs to be with The Group with POWER and MONEY for good and for bad without questioning on whether it is Right or Wrong. Privileged Leaders with Power and Money actions and non actions are THE FULL TRUTH and even if the result proved otherwise Privileged Leaders’ decisions are NEVER WRONG because it is WRONG feed of information from THE GRASS ROOT that the wrong decisions were made. This precipitated partisan politics of patronage that 1 must belong to 1 group that factionalism sprouted with FANATICS who are EMOTIONAL, COWARDICE, GUTLESS, CLUELESS and BRAINLESS.

    As a results MALAYSIAN LEADERS are NOT ISSUES CENTERED and operate along divide according to race/religion/language/political affiliation/believes/cultures /gender; etc etc. The PULSE of THE RAKYATS at the HOT BED of ISSUES are NEVER ADDRESSED until THESE ISSUES full blown into CONFLICTS. Lets tinker and remember that all man are born equal in the eyes of the Almighty God and yet The World had never been at peace because of WARS by use of Weapons of Mass Destruction which results in physical death, and abuses and manipulation of rights to power of 1 human race over another human race which results in SELF PROCLAIMED SUPERIORITY of the dominant race over all other mankind.

    YB LKS, lets not envy PRIVILEGED LEADERS with POWER when RICH and POWERFUL TYCOONS have also been accorded such special privileges. Just remain focus on THE ISSUES and THE PULSE of THE RAKYATS is with THE TRUTH.

    1 United Bangsa Malaysia seek the same issue focus attention of YB LKS and fellow Malaysians to resolve a 11 years old issue faced by Malaysians Condominium (MC) in the heart of City Centre.

    Malaysians Condominium (MC) is jointly developed by a private developer with land from the Local Council which is now managed by a Joint Management Body (JMB) formed under Act 663 with effect from April 2008 .

    The JMB is Chaired by a cohesive minority group with 3 foreigners of the small traders and working class. 4 of the Joint Management Committee members are also related by marriage and blood tie. No audited accounts was presented for 1 decade since 1998. The JMB is also not able to provide any monthly accounts since April 2008 and buy time under Act 663 that the accounts will be audited in due course!

    A sum of RM3.2 millions Sinking Funds billed by the developer/property manager appointed by the Local Council since Day 1 was not accounted for.

    No action was taken by the JMB on the RM3.2 millions and instead JMB now intends to collect further Sinking Funds from owners although JMB have given notice on 8 May 2008 to owners that JMB waived the 7 sens psf Sinking Funds.

    All these are happening with full knowledge of the Authority without any enforcement action made against the JMB to address the issues.

    What a fall from grace and Rakyats Malaysia continue to face shoddy maintenance and services and facilities not provided but billed for by the developer/property manager and now The JMB!

    Perhaps YB LKS and privileged Malaysian Leaders with Authority and fellow 1 Bangsa Malaysia, may be able to assist to resolve the 1 decade old issues faced by MC? As there are 9 Pakatan MPs in KL with only 1 UMNO MP cum Minister lets not tinker in which constituency MC lies in KL.

    Is the 1 UMNO MP cum Minister too powerful for the 9 PR MPs in KL to resolve the issues faced on property maintenance by MC?

    Rakyats MC do not want a repeat of Bukit Antarabangsa when the 40 odd storey’s MC lifts crashed with lost of lives.

    MC is looking forward to a speedy conclusion to this 11 years pain due to abuse of powers and mismanagement of funds by the parties involved with YB LKS’s assistance.

    May God bless us all with Malaysians Leaders who are ISSUES CENTERED and said NO to PARTISAN PATRONAGE POLITICS for a brighter future for Malaysia.

    Thank you.

    Together for 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia and 1 United Bangsa Malaysia.

  11. I thought they always complained that the police are unable to curb the crime rate because there’s not enough personnel in the force? I guess one shouldn’t complain. After all, with so many police present, the place will be free from crime for a change. And this will show how partisan the police are resulting more support for the opposition.

  12. I cannot imagine the President of the United States or the Vice President going down to Austin, TX from Washington DC, to help a fellow Republican win a by-election. I also cannot imagine the President of the United States traveling anywhere without the usual security, and in the capacity of an ordinary citizen.

    Having said that the misuse and abuse of government property and state resources though illegal by the incumbent party candidates during elections in Malaysia is today a non-issue.

  16. Don’t worry Kit, Najis is doing what every incoming CEO would do – clear out the old guard, take all the losses (and more if necessary) so that he starts with a clean slate, and a lower base with lower expectations. Then he can build from there.

    Listen to Mamakthir – he is already saying that the UMNO candidate is the wrong candidate, and I believe the MB of Trengganu and the Palace thinks likewise. How can Wan Farid win ? If he wins, then I can safely say that the PAS machinery must be really useless and ineffective.

  18. ISRAELIS ARE LIKE ENDANGERED HORNBILLS, always living under the shadow of predators.

    If you were Israelis and living under the daily barrage of rockets and your family is imperilled every moment of every day, now what would you do after 100 days and some more?

    This is, I think, an unsolvable problem, tied up in religious sensitivities. The Israelis are, seemingly trying the only strategy available, to break the Palestinians’ back before bringing them to the negotiation table. Now with a broken back, what can Palestinians do, let alone ask!

  20. The more they try to cheat, intimidate and lie, the more obvious is their desperation. Take the arrest of the PKR youths for displaying the Altantuya posters. BN is inadvertently highlighting this issue through their actions. Now all talk in KT will be the Altantuya issue, and will centre on the typical Malay proverb “siapa yang makan cili, dialah yang merasa pedas”.

    PAS should just put up Mamakthir posters with the classic quote from him – “Wan Ahmad Farid is the Wrong Choice”.

  21. Undergrad2,

    Of course you cannot imagine many things because they are different kettle of fish altogether – the President of USA and Deputy PM of Malaysia!

    No American can ever accept the President of USA and/or his wife ‘characters in doubt’ involved in gruesome C4 murder involving a foreign national, can he?

  23. The police force should not only be impartial, but should also SEEN TO BE IMPARTIAL when conducting themselves in any operation.

    The police force must be NON PARTISAN, whose only interest, objective and duty is to protect and defend the public first, the public second, and the public last, in maintaining public law and order.

    That is what the force is set up to for.

    Other functions should be auxiliary and secondary in nature.

    As such, the police presence in the KT by-election, or any other elections for that matter, must be for the express purpose of maintaining law and order, which is to prevent any untoward incidents from happening, or to contain any such matters if they do occur and prevent it from deteriorating any further.

    At no time should the police force be used as a direct function or apparatus of the election machinery of any political parties from either divides.

    Using the police force in any other manner other than described above must be avoided at all cost. Let alone being used as personal and private outriders and bodyguards by any party, just because they are from the incumbent establishment or the party that form government.

    Any such abuse must be reported and accorded proper legal and punitive measures.

    Indeed the rakyat must be firm in that demand to prevent the police force from being used in manners other than intended and meant for.

    The police must always remember that they are paid and maintained by the rakyat, who are the eventual paymasters. As such they must always be impartial, non-partisan and people oriented, and not the pawns of the government or individuals or any political masters.

  24. Jong Says:

    Today at 22: 28.17 (33 minutes ago)
    Undergrad2,

    \Of course you cannot imagine many things because they are different kettle of fish altogether – the President of USA and Deputy PM of Malaysia!\

    The President of United States is a mackerel and the Deputy PM of Malaysia is ikan kembong??

  25. Najib is the DPM of the country and as such deserves some form of protection where ever he goes. This is being practiced in many countries all over the world. Obama was given the protection of the US secret service even before he won the presidency! To say that Najib should travel without police protection is naive and ridiculous. LKS, sometimes I think you should get back down to earth from your dreamland.

    I am no Najib fan but I do respect the rule of law. So to those who are so adamant that Najib has links to Altantunya, please furnish your proof!! PKR should not use the picture of a dead lady to further their political cause.. thats not only wrong when you don’t have proof.. but distasteful and cheap!

    Nevertheless, the police, EC etc must be impartial when carrying out their duty. If BN supporters break the law, they should also be arrested or action taken accordingly.

  27. If it is defammatory, then the court would be the place to go to. You don’t arrrest five people for no reason and asked for four more days to detain them to find if a law has been broken! ‘Four more days’ locked up at the police station, is the punishment for some alleged crime yet to be identified!

    There were just pictures of Altantuya and no captions.

  29. If Malaysia’s Deputy PM and/or his wife are clean and has nothing to do with murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu what is there for them to be afraid of the dead lady’s pix? Instead they should be saying, “let it be, the pix don’t mean a thing and can’t shake us”

    Using the police to take action on those PKR guys is going to backfire. Now the whole country knows UMNO/Najib’s weakness. Just watch it, PAS/PKR/DAP will continue to harp on it and bring the ghost of Altantuy to Kuala Trengganu! :D

  31. imranj78 Says:

    Today at 23: 33.21 (9 minutes ago)
    undergrad2,
    Don’t use the frequently misused `freedom of speech’ mantra to defend PKR’s exploitation of Altantunya’s death to gain political mileage.”

    Is there anything illegal or wrong about “gaining political mileage”??

  33. The Ghost of Altantuya has arrived and is already giving them nightmares! :D

    hmmm I wonder what about wearing t-shirts with Altantuya’s pix, will the mata-mata haul them all into lockup? Just a thought. :D

  34. The Ghost of Altantuya has arrived in Kuala Trengganu and is already giving them nightmares!

    hmmm I wonder what about wearing t-shirts with Altantuya’s pix, will the mata-mata haul them all into lockup? Just a thought.

  41. Breakin News:

    – the Kuala Trengganu Magistrate, asked “What’s wrong with that?” in reference to having in possession the posters of Altantuya Shaariibuu, had ordered the release of the 5 PKR Youths.

    Congrats! One up for Pakatan Rakyat.

  43. It has taken me 40 years of hard slog to become a respectable member of society in my own eyes. It just took me 10 minutes to find, encode and set a certain National Anthem as the ringtone on a phone.

    It seems like a waste to keep it to myself. Anybody want it? For purely personal enjoyment, obviously.

  44. Using government machinery and labour for election purposes is illegal.The voters are also tax payers and they also come from the opposition.Najib should stop these blatant abuse of power immediately.Let us be fair and not create problems.The massive number of policemen shows that the government is not confident of the Terengganu civilised people.Incidents and flare up can happen but it deems no big rocks to pulverise.Democracy is alive in Terengganu and the Federal government should not underestimate the people here.They know that the patch up work done now is not a long term solution.Giving out and dishing endless sweets during election campaign will not buy over them.Terengganu people can live in poverty if it deems but at the same they have their right to decide.Both parties must come out with issues that have not been solved.Petty issues are not acceptable.We are committed to a two party system as such we have to start to nurture these principles so that the future of this country is in the good hands of a multiracial society.

  45. On election matters…UMNO have hundreds millions “commission” saved….so call legal money… stolen from the Rakyat.
    When one need to keep on putting out huge banners….distribute briberies…plus still use tax payer money with a thick skin face.. on such an occasion ..to smoothen roads…repair leaks..fill up pot holes…shows…after 52 years…no good reputations…and on going to fool Malaysians.
    They use money power from stolen money to the greatest heights…from Mahatir’s 22 years….up to now.
    If you also observe carefully..besides a big mouth and very selfish vicious character…Mahathir have shown what a dictator he was…sacking 4 DPM that did not agree with him…putting one in jail for 6 years…with false charges..and all these 4..are much better than Najib. Mahathir wanted…”yes men” . Is that not a Dictator?
    Yet he ruled for 22 years..showed his money power worked with his own selfish…cruel agenda
    In the whole world….no other government is so clear…so corrupted to the core…than UMNO.
    Mahathir said….”Money is power”….so true…..making sure oppositions do not have that kind of money.
    But Allah does work in a mysterious ways..to ensure Pakatan Rakyat have equal financial facilities…from donations..all over the world.
    Otherwise…Permatang Pauh would have not be won.
    So as individual Malaysians…..with no money..we must ..each work hard…. to help change the government. Offer our services without being asked…as much as we can.
    At the end of the day…we can say to ourselves…we did out best too. That’s good.
    We are actually fighting a devilish government….who divide to rule and created a third class Malaysians of their own race.
    What more proof does anyone want…to know UMNO….is so hypocritical and corrupted.
    If Terengganu by-election falls to UMNO…than the devils have more deciples there than anywhere else…or have created so many selfish and half past sixes….cannot think..simply put an “X”…job done…like before…and these are mostly..the third class Muslims…just like in Palestine..no need to think..just fight for jihad…and die.
    How cruel can UMNO be…to brainwashed..to be lazy and contented…to stay in power..to his own race.

  47. The police quick action in arresting 5 members of PKR youth wing merely deepens one’s suspicion whether Najis was actually involved in Altantuya’s case. The arrest is unnecessary if Najis truly has nothing to with Altantuya’s murder.

  48. Its sad really, how we have such low expectation of our leaders. Sdr. Lim still keep his feet in flying the flags of high and idealistic standards but its met with cynicism mostly. These days, people leaders like Sdr. Lim to be highly result oriented and not call for high idealism i.e. ideological.

    Sdr. Lim amd Karpal Singh comes from a different era, the pre-Mahathir Machiavellian ways. Where top leaders are suppose to hold the line on idealism.

    Its sad no many don’t appreciate it and gives credence that today’s Malaysian are truly prodigal inheritors and our newer leaders even more so..

  49. The Mamakfler needs some cheap publicity that the mainstream media is willing to give him.
    He has been ignored for far too long, desperate and needs to create headlines to be noticed, that’s about all.

    It’s either to divide the people, create friction or spat at our neighbour Singapore and superpower United States of America that he envies.

  50. Yes…that ever thick skin and devil reincarnated mamak…tell Malaysians to boycott Coca Cola.
    He lied..he cheated..and yes…paid US 1 million….not in RM.. to meet Bush…supporting US$..now tell us .what he supported.
    I bet you….he his safe is ever stacked up with thousands and thousands US$ ..ready to travel anytime.
    And only last month….he showed his ever unbelievable lying character….promising to release all UMNO corrupted crooks in his blog…AFTER ….Tunku Ahmad Rithauddeen…said corruption went back 25 years ago…corrupted to the core…hinting at the mamak..and this mamak…never deliver his promise at all….so out-dated….so sickening…hoping Malaysians easily forget all his dirty political tactics.
    What a low class racialist.. PM we had for 22 years.
    Dollah is simple a coward and a liar…..and Najib will remind us ….little about Mahathir….but with no brains. He will be the biggest braggart … liar…and a well dressed actor. That’s all…he is good at.

  51. And he dare not say boycott …KFC…MaDonald…Pepsi….all operated by UMNO members…. and one by his good friend.
    This mamak…..every fibre of his brain is corrupted to the core with cunning and foxy mentalities.

  53. # undergrad2 Says:
    January 5th, 2009 (3 days ago) at 23: 24.17

    “PKR should not use the picture of a dead lady ..”

    You got a problem with freedom of speech?? – end quote –

    OOPS…shouldn’t it be “freedom of pictures”?

  54. Perhaps we should start asking questions about the big picture…

    Do we need a Referendum For A New Democracy?

    Are you concerned about the future of democracy? Do you feel democracy is under attack by extreme greed in countries around the world? Are you sick and tired of: living in fear, corporate greed, growing police state, government for the rich, working more but having less?

    Can we use both elections and random selection (in the way we select government officials) to rid democracy of undue influence by extreme wealth and wealth-dominated mass media campaigns?

    The world’s first democracy (Athenian democracy, 600 B.C.) used both elections and random selection. Even Aristotle (the co-founder of Western thought) promoted the use random selection as the best way to protect democracy. The idea of randomly selecting (after screening) juries remains from Athenian democracy, but not randomly selecting (after screening) government officials. Why is it used only for individual justice and not also for social justice? Who wins from that? …the extremely wealthy?

    What is the best way to combine elections and random selection to protect democracy in today’s world? Can we use elections as the way to screen candidates, and random selection as the way to do the final selection? Who wins from that? …the people?

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