Pengerusi SPR buat duit atas bantahan daftar pemilih - Husam

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Julai (Hrkh) - Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Husam Musa menuduh Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman 'buat duit' atas caj bayaran bagi bantahan yang dibuat ke atas seseorang pengundi dalam daftar pemilih baru yang dipamer SPR.

Menurutnya caj yang dikenakan untuk satu bantahan ke atas seorang pendaftar disyaki adalah mereka yang tidak layak mengundi di kawasan tersebut ialah RM10.

Justeru sebagai contoh, jika terdapat 1000 nama pengundi yang baru didaftar yang disyaki tidak layak mengundi di kawasan tersebut, pembantah terpaksa membayar sejumlah RM10,000 untuk tujuan itu.

"Wang ini, jika berjaya atau tidak tetap hangus.Jumlah ini adalah sama bagi jumlah bayaran deposit bagi seorang calon yang mahu bertanding bagi kerusi Parlimen.Bagi kami, ia amat membebankan, justeru caj ini perlu dimansuhkan, sebaliknya diberi ganjaran kepada mereka yang bantah dan bantahan itu benar,"tegasnya semasa mengadakan sidang media di Pejabat Agung PAS, Jalan Raja Laut dekat sini hari ini.

Turut serta dalam sidang media itu ialah, bekas Bendahari KeADILan, Abdul Rahman Othman yang kini menjawat jawatan Timbalan Pengerusi Lajnah Ekonomi PAS Pusat.

Sementara itu mengulas mengenai Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12, beliau berkata setakat ini tanda-tanda awal pilihan raya tidak akan dibuat pada bulan Ogos dapat dilihat dengan pengumuman SPR bahawa Kelantan memiliki 200,000 pengundi tidak berdaftar.

Ini menandakan bahawa kegagalan Umno dan jentera Barisan Nasional (BN) Kelantan dalam rancangan asalnya untuk memindahkan pengundi dari luar Kelantan mengundi di negeri tersebut, ujarnya.

Sebelum ini, PAS Kelantan pernah membuat bantahan dan kenyataan mengenai usaha Umno Kelantan untuk membawa pengundi luar mengundi di Kelantan yang boleh disifatkan sebagai pendaftaran pengundi hantu secara terancang, kata Husam.

PAS melihat kegegalan Umno Kelantan yang masih bergolak antara satu pimpinan dengan pimpinan lain di negeri itu menyebabkan ketidaksediaan mereka (BN) berhadapan dengan pilihan raya umum, ujarnya.

Guna dakwat diyakini tidak bercanggah hukum agama

BACHOK, 11 Julai (Hrkh) – PAS yakin cadangan menggunakan dakwat pada jari sebagai tanda seseorang pemilih telah mengundi tidak bercanggah dengan hukum agama.

Naib Presiden PAS, Dato’ Husam Musa berkata, dakwat tersebut boleh dilekatkan di mana-mana bahagian badan yang tidak terlibat dengan wuduk sekiranya sangsi menyebabkan air tidak rata.

Menurutnya biar apa kaedah digunakan, peraturan cap jari perlu dilaksanakan secepat mungkin bagi memastikan proses pilihan raya di negara ini berjalan secara lebih telus.

Image“Namun apa yang dilihat sekarang kerajaan seperti sengaja mencari helah untuk tidak melaksanakan cadangan itu. Sepatutnya integriti pilihan raya benar-benar bersih mesti dijaga sebelum masyarakat hilang keyakinan.

“Kita bersetuju pelaksanaan ini diadakan secepat mungkin tanpa sebarang alasan,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika melawat rumah penduduk yang dilanda ribut baru-baru ini.

Beliau juga berkata, PAS akan meneruskan misinya turun ke bawah sebelum menghimpunkan rakyat di Putrajaya sebagai usaha menuntut perubahan dalam pengendalian pilihan raya dilakukan.

Oleh itu katanya, kerajaan dan Suruhanya Pilihan Raya perlu mengesahkan persetujuan perlaksanaan kaedah tersebut sebelum PAS dan Barisan Alternatif menghimpunkan rakyat di jalan raya.

Sementara itu, ketika ditanya pemberita Husam enggan mengulas sebarang kenyataan Setiausaha Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Dato’ Sazmi Miah mengenai dakwaan kerajaan negeri meluluskan tanah kepada syarikat dari Singapura.

Calon Bukan Anak Jati Tidak Diterima Di Kubang Kerian

KUBANG KERIAN, 15 Mac (Bernama) - Keputusan PAS meletakkan calon yang bukan anak jati Kelantan bertanding di kawasan parlimen Kubang Kerian menimbulkan protes dan kekecewaan di kalangan penyokong mereka sendiri.

Ketua Penaja Umno Bahagian Kubang Kerian Datuk Ahmad Rusli Iberahim berkata, kehadiran Ketua Pemuda PAS Pusat Salahuddin Ayub untuk bertanding di kawasan Parlimen Kubang Kerian telah menimbulkan kekecewaan dan bantahan di kalangan penyokong PAS sendiri.

"Kekecewaan sudah mula ada di kalangan penyokong PAS sendiri kerana calonnya (PAS) bukan rakyat Kelantan. Protes ada, kebetulan pula wakil rakyat sedia ada tidak menjalankan tugas," katanya ketika berceramah di Kedai Lalat di sini Ahad malam.

Beliau turut memaklumkan hadirin berhubung kelebihan yang bakal dinikmati rakyat Kelantan menerusi manifesto tambahan khas BN untuk Kelantan bertemakan "Membina Kelantan Gemilang" yang mengandungi 11 perkara meliputi kepentingan seluruh golongan masyarakat di negeri ini.

Manifesto yang dilancarkan oleh Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Kelantan, Datuk Mustapa Mohamad di sini semalam akan dilaksanakan apabila BN memerintah Kelantan selepas pilihan raya 21 Mac ini.

Antara kandungan manifesto itu ialah memansuhkan semua cukai pintu dan tanah yang tertunggak, penyemakan semula elaun imam dan guru agama, penubuhan Universiti Kelantan dan menaikkan taraf Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra kepada lapangan terbang antarabangsa.

Ahmad Rusli meminta pengundi Kelantan untuk menerima tawaran manifesto BN itu yang mampu membawa banyak kebaikan dan pembangunan di negeri itu.

"Memang rakyat Kubang Kerian sudah dapat menilai dan inilah masa yang paling sesuai untuk kita buat perubahan," katanya lagi.

Pada pilihan raya lepas, calon PAS, Husam Musa menang dengan majoriti 16,091 undi menewaskan calon BN Zaleha Hussin.

PAS Edar Manifesto Buktikan Kejayaan Memerintah Di Kelantan

KOTA BAHARU, 14 Mac (Bernama) - PAS Kelantan yang memerintah kerajaan negeri selama tiga penggal sejak pilihan raya 1990, mengemukakan manifesto pilihan raya membabitkan usaha membangunkan 16 perkara yang menyentuh kehidupan seharian rakyat negeri itu.

PAS Kelantan dalam usaha mengekalkan kuasanya turut berjanji untuk memberikan hak dan kebebasan dalam semua aspek kebudayaan dan ekonomi kepada bukan Islam termasuk memberi mereka kebebasan untuk menjalankan kegiatan ekonomi serta tidak menyekat peluang mereka mengumpul kekayaan dan pemilikan harta.

Manifesto 28 muka surat berwarna hijau, warna rasmi parti berwajah Islam itu, bertajuk "Program PAS Negeri Kelantan, Pilihan raya Umum 2004 -- Mengekalkan Kemenangan Kelantan".

Manifesto itu yang dilancarkan oleh Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat hari Sabtu, mula diedarkan kepada rakyat negeri itu hari Ahad.

Kandungan manifesto itu juga memaparkan kejayaan pemerintahan PAS di Kelantan serta bukti kejayaan dasar pentadbiran parti itu melibatkan program pembangunan yang "telah, sedang dan akan dilaksanakan".

Antara program pembangunan yang didakwa PAS telah berjaya dilaksanakan meliputi ekonomi, agama, pendidikan, pelancongan dan kebudayaan, sosial, kewangan, keluarga, wanita, industri pertanian serta kejayaan membela bukan Islam dalam tempoh 14 tahun lepas.

Ketika melancarkannya, Nik Aziz yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan berkata kandungan buku itu hanya untuk memaparkan bukti kejayaaan PAS memerintah sebuah kerajaan setelah sering diperkecilkan kebolehannya oleh Barisan Nasional (BN).

Katanya kandungan buku itu hanya merupakan perancangan PAS sebagai sebuah kerajaan negeri dan manifesto utama PAS sepanjang masa ialah "Al-Quran dan Hadis".

Anggota Parlimen Kubang Kerian Husam Musa yang juga anggota jawatankuasa PAS pusat berkata manifesto itu diterbitkan bagi menangkis dakwaan BN bahawa Kelantan mundur di bawah pemerintahan PAS.

Pada kata-kata pendahuluan buku program itu, PAS meminta rakyat Kelantan terus memberi mandat kepada parti "lambang bulan" itu untuk memerintah bagi membolehkan program-program berdasarkan Islam diteruskan.

"PAS adalah suatu jemaah berteraskan Islam yang berjuang di landasan politik Islam dan dakwah. Tujuan penubuhannya bagi memastikan wujud pemerintahan Islam di tanah air kita ini kerana pemerintah Islam wajib ditegakkan," menurut kandungan buku itu.

Pemilihan Calon PAS Adalah Kehendak Pusat Dan Rakyat

KOTA BAHARU, 12 Mac (Bernama) - Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat berkata pertukaran kawasan bertanding dari kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) kepada kerusi Parlimen atau sebaliknya oleh calon-calon PAS di Kelantan pada pilihan raya umum ke-11 ini, adalah kehendak PAS Pusat dan rakyat.

Katanya ini kerana calon-calon terbabit dilihat lebih berpotensi daripada segi sumbangan mereka kepada parti dan rakyat apabila menang kelak.

"Macam timbalan saya (Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman), (PAS) pusat minta beliau pergi (bertanding) Parlimen walaupun saya berikhtiar begitu begini (supaya bertanding DUN) akhirnya saya akur pada arahan pusat, beliau bertanding Parlimen Pengkalan Chepa," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengumumkan senarai calon-calon PAS yang akan bertanding 11 kerusi Parlimen dan 43 kerusi DUN pada pilihan raya umum ke 11, di sini, Khamis malam.

Nik Aziz mengulas beberapa calon Parlimen pada pilihan raya umum 1999 dibawa bertanding kerusi DUN pada pilihan raya umum ini, mereka termasuklah Husam Musa yang merupakan penyandang Parlimen Kubang Kerian tetapi kini bertanding DUN Kijang, Mohd Amar Abdullah dari Parlimen Pengkalan Chepa kini bertanding kerusi DUN Panchor.

Ditanya adakah beliau akan terus menjadi Menteri Besar jika PAS memenangi pilihan raya umum ini, Nik Aziz yang juga Mursyidul Am PAS berkata beliau sentiasa bersedia jika khidmatnya masih diperlukan oleh parti dan rakyat.

Mengenai penggantinya, beliau berkata terdapat ramai yang berkebolehan tetapi yang penting mereka ini mestilah daripada tokoh ulama.

Ditanya langkah PAS meletakkan dua calon wanita iaitu Rohani Ibrahim (DUN Tanjong Mas) dan Kalthom Othman (Parlimen Pasir Puteh) pada pilihan raya umum ini, beliau berkata mereka diletakkan di kawasan yang selamat iaitu mudah untuk menang selain menghargai sumbangan yang telah banyak diberikan oleh golongan itu.

Mengenai calon luar dari Kelantan iaitu Ketua Pemuda PAS Pusat Salahuddin Ayub yang berasal dari Johor untuk bertanding Parlimen Kubang Kerian, Nik Aziz berkata bukan perkara baru dan yakin pengundi akan memberi sokongan sebagaimana calon-calon luar yang pernah PAS letak sebelum ini.

Ditanya mengenai barisan calon-calon yang dikemukakan oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) beliau berkata PAS tidak gentar kerana kebanyakan mereka ini menentap di luar Kelantan dan suka menonjolkan sikap kebendaan yang tidak disukai rakyat Kelantan.

Ketua, Timbalan Ketua Dan 20 Anggota Cawangan PAS Isyihar Sokong BN

KOTA BAHARU, 19 Mac (Bernama) -- Ketua dan timbalan ketua, antara 20 anggota PAS cawangan Kuala Besar di sini mengisytihar diri keluar dari parti itu dan berjanji menyokong calon Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN), Kijang, pilihan raya ini.

Mohamad Johari Ismail, 45 dan Abdul Manaf Mat Amin, 47, masing-masing menganggotai PAS sejak 20 tahun lepas meninggalkan parti itu kerana pemimpin negeri gagal menunaikan janji membangunkan kawasan berkenaan.

"Mereka pernah berjanji sebanyak dua kali membina sekolah agama di kawasan ini tetapi sampai sekarang tiada apa-apa yang dibangunkan," katanya kepada Bernama pada majlis pengisytiharan keluar parti beramai-ramai di sini, hari ini.

Turut Hadir calon BN DUN Kijang, Che Rosli Hassan dan penduduk kampung berkenaan yang terdiri daripada kaum nelayan.

Mohamad Johari berkata beliau merasa kecewa dan tidak percaya lagi dengan sikap pemimpin PAS Kelantan yang tidak prihatin dengan kehendak rakyat.

Katanya penyertaan mereka kepada Umno untuk menentukan masa depan yang lebih terjamin melalui perjuangan yang dilaksanakan BN.

Abdul Manaf pula berkata beliau akan bekerja keras mempastikan kawasan berkenaan dimenangi calon BN pada pilihan raya ini.

Sementara itu Che Rosli yang ditentang calon Pas Husam Musa berkata dengan sokongan pengikut PAS, harapan beliau memenangi kawasan itu cerah.

Tidak Perlu Boikot Pilihan Raya Umum, Kata Timbalan Presiden Keadilan

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Feb (Bernama) - Pembangkang tidak perlu memboikot pilihan raya umum akan datang melainkan ada perubahan "mood" rakyat, kata Timbalan Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat Dr Syed Husin Ali.

Beliau berkata sehingga hari ini rakyat negara ini masih percaya bahawa pilihan raya adalah cara untuk memilih kerajaan.

"Orang masih percaya kepada pilihan raya. Kita mesti berhati-hati sebelum membuat keputusan (untuk memboikot pilihan raya) terutamanya pilihan raya umum," katanya kepada pemberita selepas Persidangan Meja Bulat Nasional: Demokrasi dan Pilihan Raya di sini Sabtu.

Persidangan anjuran Gabungan Untuk Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) itu disertai wakil parti pembangkang dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan.

Bagaimanapun, Syed Husin mempertahankan keputusan Keadilan memboikot pilihan raya kecil kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri Batu Talam, Pahang bulan lepas.

Beliau berkata langkah itu adalah tepat dalam usaha memberitahu rakyat bahawa Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) tidak adil.

Di sebalik tindakan itu dan beberapa usaha pembangkang untuk mempengaruhi pengundi di situ, Barisan Nasional menang besar pada pilihan raya kecil itu, mengalahkan calon Bebas dengan majoriti 5,857 undi. Calon Bebas yang memperoleh 419 undi, hilang wang pertaruhan.

Di Kota Baharu pada 31 Jan lepas, Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Husam Musa berkata parti pembangkang itu mungkin memboikot pilihan raya umum akan datang sekiranya tindakan tegas tidak diambil dalam memperbetulkan apa yang disifatkannya sebagai kelemahan Akta Pilihan Raya sekarang.

Ditanya pemberita bagaimana menentukan "mood" rakyat pada pilihan raya umum akan datang, Syed Husin berkata: "Kita akan memantau perkembangannya melalui kehadiran pada ceramah yang kita anjur."

Terdahulu dalam ucapannya, beliau berkata tindakan memboikot pilihan raya DUN Batu Talam baru-baru ini dianggap berjaya.

"Tetapi ia akan lebih berkesan jika maklumat mengenai tindakan itu disampaikan dengan jelas. Orang tempatan tidak faham apa itu boikot.

"Antara pemimpin sendiri pun bercanggah pendapat. Sama ada boleh atau tidak untuk keluar mengundi," katanya.

Yang turut hadir ialah Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

PAS: No Indians in village but 300 Indians registered as voters

PAS will not announce its decision whether to contest in the upcoming Batu Talam by-election pending a satisfactory explanation from the Election Commission (EC) on certain basic things.

Its vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said the party will send a delegation to the EC to get a clarification on the electoral role but at the same time, it will continue with its preparations for the election on the ground.

"We have a made a decision today but we will not announce it yet as we want the EC to explain certain things first. Once we are satisfied the election is going to be clean, then only we will make public our decision.

"One of the issues is on the existence of some 300 Indian voters in Kg Ulu Sungai. We have checked and found there is not a single Indian family there," he told theSun when contacted.

The by-election is held following the death of its assemblyman Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan on Dec 27. Since 1999, PAS has always fielded a candidate for the seat.

Husam said PAS is ready with many issues to battle with Barisan Nasional on Jan 28.

They include the problem of water supply in the Felda area which the people claimed was only available from 8am until 4pm daily, with no supply in the rest of the day.

"Then there is also this problem of regular interruption in electricity supply, almost on a daily basis, including on Saturday (Jan 6, 2007) while we were having a meeting there.

"The people in Raub are also worried as they have heard that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has approved the use of cyanide, a very toxic chemical, in gold mining activities there," he added.

Husam said another issue is about young settlers whom the government promised in 2004 to be given land but until now nothing.

"We believe we have strong issues to fight for. We also received reports from the people in Raub, asking us to contest in the by-election. But first, we want the EC to settle the basic matters," he added. (Malaysia Today)

First by-election, now Pas may boycott general election

After its boycott of the Batu Talam by-election, Pas is mulling the same for the next general election, said party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa.

Husam, who is Kelantan state public administration, economic planning, finance and community development committee chairman, said the decision to contest or not would be made later.

"I’m not saying that we are boycotting the general election but it is a possibility," he said after the weekly state executive council meeting. The boycott in Batu Talam, Pahang, followed the opposition party’s allegations of irregularities in the electoral system.

"We are not afraid of losing to our opponents but rather afraid to lose out because of the (election) system. What happened in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election in 2005 strengthened our decision to boycott Batu Talam," he said.

In the Pengkalan Pasir by-election Barisan Nasional’s Hanafi Mamat defeated Pas’ Hanifa Ahmad by a majority of 134 votes.

Pas then petitioned to nullify the result at the High Court but lost after its charges of phantom voters and bribery could not be proved.

Husam also said he and several Pas members would be in Batu Talam soon, not to campaign but to meet the people and hold a dialogue on local problems. (Malaysia Today)

Bury PKR in the polls, says Khairy

In-fighting will lead to defeat for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Pas in the next general election.

Deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said PKR was beleaguered by internal problems, while there was a rift between the old and the young in Pas.

He accused PKR leader and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being more interested in promoting his interests than the party’s or the people’s.

This, he said, had resulted in an exit of many of his strong supporters from the party.

"Anwar is simply incapable of promoting unity in any organisation that he has been in. He nearly caused a split in Umno and is doing the same thing in PKR.

"Right now, the party does not enjoy the support it used to. If he can’t manage his own party, how can we trust him to lead the country?" he asked when officiating the Kuala Krai Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates’ meeting yesterday.

He said the people should "bury" PKR in the polls.

On Pas, he said it was facing similar problems, especially with the unease among members towards young professionals in the party.

He said Pas spiritual adviser and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat also seemed to have vested too much power to his protege Datuk Husam Musa.

"Kelantan seems to have a second menteri besar and that is Husam. Nik Aziz just keeps mum and allows Husam to answer many controversial issues like the deforestation of Lojing Highlands and the mismanagement of Syarikat Air Kelantan.

"Husam is becoming all powerful, even stronger than the deputy menteri besar." (Malaysia Today)

PAS' target of 40 parliamentary seats is merely a dream

JELI, Aug 10 (Bernama) - Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said PAS' hopes of winning 40 parliamentary seats throughout the country is merely a dream which is impossible to achieve.

He said that looking at the latest political scenario, it would be difficult for PAS to maintain its position after the party's defeat in Terengganu in the 2004 election.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, said the people of Terengganu themselves had rejected the PAS-led state government after only one term when they voted for the Barisan Nasional (BN) to administer the state under the leadership of Menteri Besar Datuk Idris Jusoh in the 2004 general election. PAS wrested power in Terengganu in the 1999 general election.

"In fact, if we look at the PAS situation in Kelantan now, it is also shaky as they only hold 27 State Legislative Assembly seats while the BN has 26," he told reporters after opening the delegates meeting of the Jeli Umno division, here Friday.

He was commenting on the Bernama report yesterday which quoted PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa as saying that PAS was now focusing on winning at least 40 parliamentary seats throughout the country in the next general election to strengthen the party's position in the Dewan Rakyat. Husam had said that PAS could make significant contribution if they could win 40 parliamentary seats and the party was capable of springing a surprise in the coming election based on its strength especially in Kelantan, Perak, Kedah and Perlis.

In the 2004 general election, PAS retained only seven out of the 27 parliamentary seats it had won in the 1999 general election.

Muhyiddin said based on the PAS situation now, it was impossible for the party to win outside Kelantan as its position in its own state had yet to be strengthened.

The minister said PAS could say anything they wanted but for the BN, the chances of PAS winning outside Kelantan were remote.

Chewing on election numbers

THE latest salvo in the numbers game in Malaysian politics seems to be quite fascinating — the opposition parties are vying for all 222 parliamentary seats in the next general election, with Pas saying it is targetting to win at least 40 of them.

On top of that, it has been discovered that while most Malaysian Chinese are dissatisfied with the country’s economic policies, the vast majority of Malays feel the government is doing a great job.

Coming in the midst of talk that the elections are around the corner, the figures provide enough fodder for many quarters to chew on.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said last week that there would be a pact of sorts by the opposition with them agreeing that only one candidate will be chosen from among them to stand against Barisan Nasional in each constituency.

"No three-cornered fights. We want to ensure that there will only be one opposition candidate. That is our common stand," she said.

Two days later, Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa boldly predicted that his party could win at least 40 parliamentary seats, particularly those in Kelantan, Perak, Kedah and Perlis. For context, it must be remembered that the party won only seven in the last general election and 27 in 1999.

On their own, there’s not much significance in the above statements since they are part of the normal decibel tests in the middle of polls talk.

But pit them against the context of a recent survey by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research and the colour changes a little.

Among the findings of the survey are that Malaysian Chinese are highly dissatisfied with the country’s economic policies: While only 32 per cent of Chinese were satisfied with the government’s handling of the economy, an overwhelming 75 per cent of Malays thought Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration was doing a good job.

The first question then would be, if the vast majority of Malays are satisfied with the present administration, how could Pas possibly think of quadrupling or quintupling its seats?

The party is speculating that the elections would be called in November, so much so that its youth wing has been mobilised to focus all efforts in working towards a general election in three months, according to the party’s youth chief Salahuddin Ayub.

But at the same time, if Pas as the main opposition party is only restricting itself to winning about 40 seats, it doesn’t really say much for the opposition’s strength and its perpetual struggle to at least deny the BN its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

The opposition must win at least 74 seats to achieve that milestone. And assuming Pas can win 40 seats, it would then be up to the DAP and PKR to deliver at least 34 more seats between them.

Looks tough, given the fact that PKR is up against a host of internal problems.

Therefore, a lot of pressure will inevitably fall on the DAP — not only to help fill the gap needed by the opposition to deny the BN the two-thirds, but also to capitalise on the dissatisfaction of the Chinese electorate as indicated by the Merdeka survey.

The DAP, which fared poorly the last time, is seen to be making a grand effort in putting up a more credible line-up by getting new talent which it believes can appeal to young, urban people.

And this, undeniably, will in turn pile even more pressure on the Chinese-based parties in the BN, namely MCA and Gerakan.

MCA, on its part, is also going all out to infuse new, "vibrant" blood in the party.

To add to that, perhaps is the pressure coming from within the coalition itself, the sort that we read in the newspapers two days ago where deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, indirectly referring to MCA and Gerakan, said BN component parties could not regard lightly the findings of the Merdeka survey.

He said the parties should find the causes of Chinese resentment and provide the relevant explanation because, as he put it, "there is nothing that could not be explained".

He said he was not accusing the parties of not doing their part in explaining to the people the findings of the survey, but expressed hope that they would step up efforts since the general election was around the corner.

In this respect, however, some "well-connected" people insist, without elaborating, that the general election is not likely to be within the year since a few things in the government side have yet to be put into place.

But that’s not what it seems on the ground as the atmosphere is really hotting up, given the various political statements made during the ongoing Umno divisional meetings.

A senior Umno official, for instance, has come forward to suggest a consensus-seeking discourse among BN component parties to thrash out, in a closed-door family atmosphere, issues deemed sensitive.

Last week, practically all Umno and BN grassroots leaders converged in Kuantan for a meeting with the deputy prime minister.

And a simple, yet sure sign that the general election is within sight came unexpectedly on Saturday through a primary school principal.

Speaking at the closing of a co-curricular camp at her school in Subang Jaya, the teacher, in the presence of Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also Umno Youth chief, said: "I’m glad to inform everyone that this school has also been chosen as a polling centre for the coming election," to the amusement of everyone. (NST, 14/8/2007)

Call not to hold elections during year end due to Haj period

KOTA BARU (NST, 27/9/2007): THE general election should not be held at the end of the year as many Muslims would be performing the Haj. State Exco member Datuk Husam Musa said the rights of pilgrims who were voters should not be denied.

The first plane carrying pilgrims to Mecca is due to depart on November 10.

“It would not be fair to deny them of the right to vote when the general election is held once in five years.”

Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat had also called for the general election not to be held during the Haj season.

Can BN Wrest Kelantan From PAS?

KOTA BAHARU, Sept 13 (Bernama) - It has been almost 17 years since PAS came into power in Kelantan and the people of the state have got use to the opposition party's rule anchored on the Islamic tenets.

While there is still no clear indication on the date for the 12th general election and the current mandate of the government extends to April 2009, one thing for sure is that political pundits have already started estimating Barisan Nasional's (BN) chances on turning the tide against PAS.

Umno shoulders BN's challenge in Kelantan and the party is well aware of the Herculean task ahead in ending PAS' domination. One thing for sure PAS has seen stable leadership in the state through its Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat despite its one seat majority while Umno has recaptured loss grounds.

However, political pundits are cautious in determining the odds for BN and PAS especially knowing well the Kelantan electorate is different compared to the rest of the country. What more when they literally gave BN a 39-0 knockout in the 1990 general election.

UMNO ATTEMPTING A COMEBACK

As for the record, after losing all the state seats in the 1990 election, BN gained some grounds in the following general election in 1995 with seven state assembly seats and two Parliament seats but in the 1999 elections BN was trounced again leaving it with two state seats and a Parliament seat.

Nevertheless, BN finally began seeing light at the end of the tunnel in the 2004 election. In a surprising turn of events BN considered the underdog won 21 out of the 45 state seats and eight of the 14 Parliament seats in Kelantan.

Though BN still failed to acquire the majority to form the state government, at the least it emerged as a credible opposition party in the state. Also for once Umno's presence was felt in the Kelantanese political landscape after a long hiatus.

PAS' majority was further narrowed down following BN's success in wresting the Pengkalan Pasir state seat in the by-election in Dec 2005 leaving BN with 22 seats and PAS with 23.

Yet PAS remained unfazed with the single seat majority. While some political observers started the countdown for the end of PAS' reign, Nik Abdul Aziz and his party held firmly to power and its obvious that they would continue until the next election.

For any political observer the question remains whether BN is really capable of taking on the iconic Nik Aziz, the PAS' spiritual head and a towering figure in Kelantan. There is a local saying that as long as Nik Aziz is there PAS will rule.

UMNO'S INTERNAL PROBLEMS A SETBACK?

It is an open secret that BN's defeat in Kelantan in the 1990 general election was due to internal bickering and Umno's splinter party Semangat 46 headed by a former Umno strongman in the state Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah that split the votes. The effects of the party's internal problem continued until the 1995 general election.

Nonetheless in the 1999 election, the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from the deputy prime minister's post in 1998 and the events that followed prompted the electorate to denounce BN.

However in the 2004 general election, BN came close to creating a surprise.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's `Mr Clean' image was the factor that won the hearts of the Kelantanese who voted for BN," said an Umno veteran from Machang, Kamal Che Pa, 72.

He related that Abdullah who took over from his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in late 2003 also exemplified good Islamic characteristics.

"That is why a big number of Kelantanese voted for BN, which almost defeated PAS," he said.

UMNO IS WORKING HARD

To win back the people's confidence, Umno has gone the extra mile in convincing the electorate that it can provide a better alternative for PAS.

"Umno headed by its state liaison chief Datuk Seri Annuar Musa has done `all that is necessary' to woo the people, and BN will wrest the state assembly mandate from PAS.

"I can see that the momentum for Umno and BN is increasing and there is no reason why we can't unseat PAS this time," said Annuar.

In winning over the people, BN is banking on "Manhaj Islam Hadhari" or the Islam Hadhari approach.

Umno also took note of Terengganu's `Blue Wave' campaign that brought down PAS' administration in the state and came up with the `Kelantan Baru' campaign with the same goal.

BN'S CHANCES ARE GOOD

If the good attendance in programmes organised by Umno is anything to go by, then BN has a good chance of turning the tide against PAS.

Yet for PAS, the changing tide failed to bother its leadership and instead a senior leader of the party voiced his confidence that PAS would win more than 40 Parliament seats at the expense of BN.

PAS' Vice President Datuk Husam Musa said his assumption was based on the increasing support for PAS because the people had enough with Umno and BN. Nik Aziz too shared the same optimism.

Nik Aziz contended that there is no reason why the people should reject PAS because the party has done the best for the people and has never betrayed them.

PAS STILL HAS ADVANTAGES

A Kelantan resident, Asri Yaakub, 42, is still confident that the people in the state would remain loyal to the leadership of ulama.

"It's better to support PAS because we the people of Kelantan are getting all that we never enjoyed during BN's rule in Kelantan," said the goldsmith.

It's true, that the Kelantanese should be thankful to the federal government that has promised billions of ringgit especially for the East Cost Corridor to be launched by Abdullah after Aidilfitri.

Presently, there are many projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan in the implementation stages and visitors to Kelantan would be surprised to see the development there.

The prime minister recently announced the construction of the second bridge across Sungai Kelantan costing RM143 million and is expected to be ready in two years time. A new highway worth billions linking Kota Baharu and Kuala Krai is also on the way.

SITUATION STILL DOESN'T FAVOUR BN

Asri's view is also shared by Umno veteran Tan Sri Hussein Ahmad who is sceptical on BN's chances of capturing Kelantan.

Hussein is of the view that there are many more things that BN must rectify beforehand if it's to win over the people.

"No doubt that Umno has made inroads but it is still not good enough for the party to come into power and no doubt what I'm saying may offend many but this is the reality that Umno has to accept," said Hussein who was the former state Umno information chief.

He claimed that the continuing internal bickering has been a cause of concern for the state Umno.

Hussein also noted that the Kelantanese were looking for "Mr Clean" to administer their beloved state and BN would receive cold shoulders if it is still hounded by internal problems.

Hussein exemplified that "PAS is not strong but it is actually Umno that is weak".

Regardless what Hussein says, the chances of PAS or BN ruling Kelantan at the end of the day is still open for debate.