Yesterday, when visiting Taman Damai Jaya in Gelang Patah, I spoke about the meaning of the Battle of Gelang Patah.
I stressed that the Battle of Gelang Patah is not my personal battle on whether I can be re-elected to Parliament.
If this is the case, I should stay back in Ipoh Timor which I had won with a majority of over 21,000 votes in the 2008 general elections, instead of going for a very high-risk contest in Gelang Patah which was won by the MCA/BN candidate with a majority of over 8,000 votes in 2008 and a humoungous majority of 31,666 votes in 2004.
In Gelang Patah I could very well lose but I am prepared to take the risk.
This is because the Battle of Gelang Patah is not so much about the victory or defeat of an individual or the gains or losses of individual parties, but whether Johore can become a “kingmaker” in the 13GE to spark a political tsunami in the country from the south and cross the South China Sea to effect the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power from Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Rakyat.
The First Objective of the Battle of Gelang Patah is in south Johore – to target the six Parliamentary and 13 State Assembly seats in south Johore to pave the way for Pakatan Rakyat to Putrajaya in the 13th General Elections.
Johor Baru has three parliamentary and six state assembly seats, namely Johor Bahru, Pasir Gudang and Tebrau parliamentary seats and Stulang, Tanjong Puteri, Johore Jaya, Permas, Puteri Wangsa and Tiram State Assembly seats.
None of these Johor Baru parliamentary and state assembly seats had been won by the Opposition, which is against the national trend where parliamentary and/or state assembly seats in the capital of most of the states are strongholds of the Opposition, whether Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu or the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur where the Pakatan Rakyat swept 10 of the 11 parliamentary seats in 2008.
There are three other parliamentary seats and seven state assembly seats in the South Johore region, namely Gelang Patah, Kulai and Pulai with seven state assembly seats, namely Skudai, Nusajaya, Pengkalan Rinting, Kempas, Senai, Bukit Batu and Bukit Permai.
Objective One of the Battle of Gelang Patah is to win for Pakatan Rakyat the six Parliamentary and 13 State Assembly seats in South Johore, for if we cannot achieve this objective, the chances of Pakatan Rakyat winning the 13GE to form the new Federal Government would be a very slim one.
The Second Objective of the Battle of Gelang Patah is the challenge to Pakatan Rakyat on a state-wide basis in Johore in 13GE.
If we can create a political tsunami to set off from Johore, then Pakatan Rakyat should aim to target 19 Parliamentary seats and 30 State Assembly seats.
The 19 Parliamentary seats are the 12 first-tier constituencies of Johor Bahru, Pasir Gudang, Tebrau, Pulai, Gelang Patah, Kulai, Tanjong Piai, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Bakri, Labis and Segamat and the seven second-tier seats of Sekijang, Ledang, Muar, Ayer Hitam, Sri Gading, Simpang Rengam and Sembrong.
For the 30 State Assembly seats in Johor, the Battle of Gelang Patah should target the 23 first-tier seats of Stulang, Tanjong Puteri, Johor Jaya, Permas, Puteri Wangsa, Tiram, Pengkalan Rinting, Kempas, Skudai, Nusajaya, Senai, Bukit Batu, Bukit Permai, Pekan Nenas, Mengkibol, Penggaram, Bentayam, Sungai Abong, Bekok, Jementah, Tangkak, Paloh and Yong Peng. There are seven second-tier winnable seats, viz: Mahkota, Layang-Layang, Parit Yaani, Maharani, Gambir, Tenang and Pemanis.
The future not only of Johore but also Malaysia is in the hands of the voters of Johore in the 13GE.
We salute you Kit. I understand why you are doing it. I am sure that this strategy to sweep from the south is correct. We must complete the 2008 Tsunami.
Thanks for doing it for us, for Malaysia. I am sure that you will win, because you did it for us.
We must change the tenant at Putrajaya. GE 13 is coming. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. First to GE 13, then to Putrajaya
Change we must. Change we can, Change we shall.
YB, by declaring your intention to contest in GP, you have already won half the battle. The response by BN so far ranks from panic to gibberish statements, proving that they have no idea on how to counter this master strategy by DAP and Pakatan.
Now that the juggernaut has moved south, BN will continue to abuse their power by putting more roadblocks to prevent democratic principles from taking root. The battles ahead are expected to be fierce and protracted but justice shall prevail eventually. Looking forward to celebrating the real MERDEKA with Pakatan in a few months, sir!
the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur where the Pakatan Rakyat swept 10 of the 11 parliamentary seats in 2008. – End of quote
This is the great enigma in the political scene of this country!!
Imagine, UMNO/BN won only one seat and yet remains in control of the FT!!!!!!!!
LKS IS the right person to lead the charge in JB.
He has the political experience, clout, foresight and flair to do so.
No wonder those in the ruling party are extremely jittery over this matter!
They are running around like headless chickens and spewing more rubbish for which they are already world famous.
Here’s to LKS success right in the fortress of UMNO/BN!!!!
Possibly the only time PR has in taking over Federal power and maybe saving the country in the process. Must thank the Toon for placing the weakest and most scandle hit PM in Malaysia’s history to lead UMNO into oblivion…
I really admire Kit’s vision and selflessness to bring good to the nation and the people.
The battle of Gelang Patah is to win it the hard way..or loose it fighting with head holding high by Lim Kit Siang.
Lim Kit Siang is testing the voters conscience and responsibilities…putting his fate at the hands of People Power.
If he wins…it serves two purposes….take away one BN win in the past..and to weaken them as much as he can.
The moment LKS announced it…shows he has guts of steel.
Every honest citizen will be backing this righteous man in the battle against the evil regime. Godspeed, Kit Siang!
LKS, we salute your REAL sacrifice for the sake of the nation!
Mr.Lim Kit Siang will bring about the absolute and total change in the political landscape of Malaysia when the next political tsunami sweeps from the south and march forward to East Malaysia.The time is ripe now for all right thinking people to support him and Pakatan to bring change and hope to this country.
Win the Iskandar region and Johore is as good as gone.
Insyallah you will succeed.
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Win the Iskandar region and Johore is as good as gone.
Insya-al-lah you will succeed.
running away from Ipoh eh
Ipoh Mali mesti Gelang Patah.
Sure is Deputy ….and Chengho lunch time from USA comment…short…brisk and as usual.. talking kok.
A good leader, leading by example.
A principle centered Party, with a system set up, like a machine, and all followers will operate accordingly,serving the people there, with or without him. Only selfish and scared MCA dare not venture out of their comfort zone.
Saudara Kit Siang is not running away from Ipoh, but setting up new base, searching for new frontier.
He is doing it for all the people of Malaysia.
a few old men trying to represent generation U
a true general…leading from the front unlike mca aka pengecut like o.ka chuan at tanjung malim