By P Ramakrishnan | Aliran’s President
When power and position means everything, ethics can go to hell, every principle of the Rukun Negara can be totally discarded, pious religious edicts can be ignored with impunity – everything becomes subservient to greed and power.
We are witnessing the worst human behavior employed and deployed in the pursuit of political power. And to think that our national leaders are involved in this despicable conduct is really nauseating.
The Sarawak election should be a contest among political parties. This is the practice in mature democracies in the civilised world. What we are witnessing in Sarawak only confirms that we are not a democracy and our conduct is not civilised in keeping with the rule of law.
The high profile figures of the Barisan Nasional are not there as leaders of the BN. They are there as leaders of the federal government and cabinet ministers. It is in these capacities that they are campaigning.
As leaders of the BN, they can only make promises but cannot grant outright allocations for projects. In this capacity they will be equal in footing with the rest of the contesting political parties. Under such circumstance, the Sarawak election would be deemed as fair and free with equal opportunity for all political parties to contest fairly.
But this is not the case in this instance. The entire cabinet seems to have descended in Sarawak for this state election. Enticing promises are made, generous allocations are declared to seduce and win over the voters with such inducements. This is nothing but vote-buying; this is nothing but political corruption.
But how is it the Election Commission does not see this as corruption? What is their definition of corruption?
Free dinners and goodies during an election – what does one make of it? New projects announced and grants declared – what is the meaning of this?
During the intervening five years after the last Sarawak election in 2006, where was this concern? Where was this compassion for the impoverished people of Sarawak many of whom exist in abject poverty, without employment, piped water, electricity, proper roads, the much needed health clinics and schools to support the communities in their locality? There was so much indifference during these five years.
But now that the election is here, it is outrageously revolting that the BN should be so suddenly concerned with the welfare of the Sarawakians. So much so, even the weekly cabinet meeting had to be cancelled to allow for the prime minister, deputy prime minister and cabinet ministers to campaign, abandoning their ministerial duties in Putrajaya.
The coarse and vulgar campaign will only get even worse as polling day approaches. Already the porno video is available on Ipad in Sarawak. How is this possible when only the infamous Datuk Trio and the police were the ones in possession of this video? Who leaked or released this scandalous porno tape? Are they all responsible for this turn of events?
To be sure, on Friday it will be announced that the Omega watch that was stolen by the prostitute belongs to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. We can read the likely pattern that will follow in order to clinch the election for the BN – come what may.
Fellow Sarawakians, your destiny is beckoning you to put right what is clearly wrong. The time has arrived for you to set the example for the rest of the country to reject corrupt officials and political bribery. This is the moment to inject morality and bring back good behavior into public life. This sacred duty to bring about change is in your hands.
You cannot be silent or indifferent to your calling in this hour of opportunity.
Remember:
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
–Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—
Sarawakians should be smart enough to know that they don’t have to wait until Najib and his Cabinet descend from Putrajaya to enjoy their fruits of their labour and their birth rights. To think that they need to be served by a bunch of hyenas only during state elections would mean that BN propaganda is working.
So c’mon, destiny is in your hands today and vote wisely.
//on Friday it will be announced that the Omega watch that was stolen by the prostitute belongs to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.//
Also the dna obtained from the pros’s genitals match that of the omega watch, which also matches the dna from the good morning towel, the toothbrush, and saiful’s bunghole……
Today 416 will be an Important Date in the history of our country where future generations will remember us as worthy citizens who are courageous in their struggle to wipe out Corruption Injustice by leaders who had abused our trust.No amount of money can entice Sarawakians to vote BN.Sarwakians will Lead the rest of Malaysia to Putrajaya.God Bless Malaysians.
Highest level of corruption: Using taxpayers’ $ 2 campain 4 a party (BN), CHEAT, FRAUD
Take whatever is Given by BN because they rightfully belongs to the rakyat.Do not Fear by voting Pakatan because Sarawakians Will get More Development Funds Greater Focus when BN loses in the election.SARAWAK was insignificant in the past Because BN was 100% assured of their Fixed Deposit.Therefore Can be Neglected and Rape of all natural resources by the blood thirsty leeching corrupt politicians for decades Until NOW when indigenous people become Aware of what is being taken away from them their land stolen etc.Sarawakians this is the one Golden Once In A Lifetime Opportunity to Change and Reclaim your Rightful Status for Next Generation.Ubah Ubah Ubah.
The ignorant and those easily fooled should wake up now and vote out the most corrupted regime that has cheated and deceived them for the past 54 years.
///Free dinners and goodies during an election – what does one make of it? New projects announced and grants declared – what is the meaning of this? ///
Our conscience tells us that as long as the aim of the above tricks is to win votes – that is corruption.
Other poorer states, such as Kelantan and Sabah, are also in desperate need. Why doesn’t BN announce new projects and give them grants NOW ?? Why must wait until polling time??
/// But how is it the Election Commission does not see this as corruption? What is their definition of corruption? ///
Simple. It all depends on who made those promises, or dished out those goodies etc. You see umno is perfect because umno is GOD. When umno dished out money to voters during election campaign it is GOD who is doing it. Can we prosecute GOD? Seriously, can GOD do wrong? So basically ramakrishnan of aliran is way way out of order with his observations above.
Umno, errr I mean GOD, tells you to shut the phaaaark up and continue to vote umno.
If Sabahan n Sarawakian had vote wisely much earlier or had enough determination to be independent, Sabah n Sarawak could be as rich as Brunei today or be 2 richest states in Malaysia !!
Maybe the Dayak (interior area) can wake up only after (if ever) their cousins in Kalimantan Barat (or Kal. Timur) or Kal.Tengah) had a higher living standard