DEC 19 — 2013 went like an overfed locomotive till midway, before sputtering and now crawling to the finishing line. But the high-octane excitements came in a ferocious spate grabbing everyone.
What you waiting for, rise up!
Weary waiting for the general election in 2012 — the endless mind-numbing speculations — Pakatan Rakyat set the tone early for the new “no way out, must have elections” year with the Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (The people’s uprising rally) at Stadium Merdeka on January 12, 2013.
The opposition pact was dead set on the date and venue irrespective of the police, Home minister and the stadium board’s opinion.
Surprisingly, and now in hindsight appears increasing strategic for Barisan Nasional (BN), the police allowed the rally to happen. They even assisted, which unhinged attendees more than the heat.
While it seems to languish in the collective memories of the masses presently, I feel the sight of so many sharing a sense of camaraderie on the greens where the first independence parade was held was something to behold. I believe it will strike a stronger chord in the future.
In a separate development, the Prime Minister Najib Razak visited Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territories, the state media lauding him for being the first Malaysian PM to do so.
Lahad Datu and that unimpressive RCI
Project Mahathir, Project IC or Umno’s two-step into Sabah programme, so many names but everyone in Sabah knows it means only one thing, the flooding of new voters to bring a different outcome, a different state government.
Over three decades, the Christian majority state had been turned into a Muslim majority state, much owing to the instant issuance of citizenship—it was never a secret just a fact the Federal government refuses to acknowledge.
Reluctantly after being pestered for years, Putrajaya let the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Sabah be formed.
Witnesses came and went. Directors, officers, clerks, ex-convicts and Mahathir himself showed up to testify. The name of the late Home minister Megat Junid Megat Ayub was mentioned as the central character. Alas, dead men don’t tell tales. Still, there was a volume of disclosures picking up pace till some visitors in another part of Sabah derailed temporarily the RCI in March.
The information on the incursion till today remains sketchy, but by February 16 it was realised that there were men with guns in an unfancied coastal town on the east not wanting to leave. They were sent by the claimant of the Sulu royal family.
Not quite a stand-off but the situation turned on its head when the police mounted an operation and there were deaths. The political points from the exchange was not lost with the BN as they lambasted Pakatan for being critical of the government of the day while a surreal war was being fought.
The “war” ended with no resolution and weeks later Najib dissolved Parliament.
The RCI did reconvene on May 20, but the mood was different post-election, even the appearance of Anwar Ibrahim in August was anti-climactic.
Nearly everything was by August, because the elections were over.
Election 2013
On April 3, the TV flashed a strident Najib as the Pekan MP announced that he was ready to face his first general election as leader of the coalition his father set up.
The mother of all elections was indeed on. Without revisiting the overwritten, let’s sift through the key results. And yes, BN still won despite a smaller majority, however it remains to be seen if Pakatan can find the engagement necessary to alter their fate in non-traditional seats.
DAP makes it to Johor: There are a few givens in Malaysian politics. One that Bukit Bintang, the Kuala Lumpur business district, will be won by DAP and that Johor will always and only remain an Umno state. Every other possibility is only viable until the idea crosses the Johor border. DAP took the battle to Johor.
Granted that except for Gelang Patah, DAP only faced off with BN component parties, but having Lim Kit Siang defeat the mentri besar of the state there, was and will remain a watershed moment in Malaysian politics.
Lembah Pantai is Nurul Izzah’s: The vice-president of PKR is not only now a second term MP, she is the vision of a future Malaysia. Najib put Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin as Kuala Lumpur chief and the city born politician may have not been an elected representative but he was the Federal Territories Minister. While he had the 11 constituencies inside the capital plus Labuan and Putrajaya, towards the end the whole wheels of his ministry were committed to defeating the first time MP.
Nurul Izzah held out dramatically, dodging the kitchen sink and Raja Nong Chik cried.
Overrated generals give way to an admiral: Servicemen and their families are expected to be vote basins for BN. Which is why the introduction of several ex-generals in the ranks of PKR candidates especially in Johor set expectations racing. They all lost despite the initial brouhaha over their entry into the fray. Ironically it was left to a retired admiral to save the blushes for the men in uniform as Mohamad Imran Abdul Hamid became the new MP for Lumut. The seat houses the naval base and a concentration of navy personnel.
Both Saifuddins are edged out: Saifuddin Nasution is PKR secretary-general and Reformasi proponent from the start while Saifuddin Abdullah MP for Temerloh was the poster boy for BN moderation. Both lost for contrasting reasons: It appeared the candidate in Kulim felt most people were still in 1998 emotionally, and his namesake in Pahang felt that having a broad national presence would translate in a fickle voting constituency. Both lose their races for different reasons.
Exits: Long serving mentri besar of Kelantan, Nik Aziz Nik Mat makes a graceful exit from active politics and remains the spiritual voice for PAS and a large number of Malaysians.
Taib Mahmud defies time and reason: Sarawak deliver the numbers for Najib, and gives BN breathing space. This despite the release of a video, six weeks prior, on March 18 with damning evidence on economic exploitation in the state.
The indelible ink is not indelible: By midday polling day the news that the ink used to avoid double voting was washing off the whole integrity of the Election Commission despite their own denials had gone down the toilet. Ink producers worldwide are preparing a plaque for Malaysia, saying that it would be wonderful if more clients paid above market price for permanent ink that is not quite permanent.
At the end of counting Pakatan were unwilling to accept the results, claiming cheating. Black 505 is about to begin.
#Black505
Election day was May 5, so the ensuing protests were named after the date.
The first one on May 8 at MPPJ Stadium Kelana Jaya, in the middle of the week, was a monster success. Petaling Jaya came to a standstill.
Pakatan was ready with lawsuits too, but it was going to take the message to the people first.
Unfortunately there was no action message, it was just the repeat of the message that everyone was already aware of, things were not fair at Election 2013.
The last rally was on June 22 at the city’s Padang Merbok, next to Parliament. A combination of prolonged rallies with no rallying point and a hefty haze plaguing the city, the mixed attendance somehow ended the resistance.
Subsidies on the way out, standing by the door to let the GST in
In his Budget speech the PM said it, that the subsidies were on the way out and that a GST (Good and Services Tax) was due April 2015.
Already on September 3, RON95 went up by 20sen.
We don’t kill Mongolians, we don’t cheat near ports
Another lifetime ago, a woman died in the woods and her immigration records were expunged. After years of intrigue enough to fill any soap opera material for half a century, on August 23 the last two remaining persons convicted of killing Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu were released on appeal. When almost seven years have lapsed since the murder and deceit, deception, institutional procrastination and prosecutorial indifference ruled the roost with mainstream media sugar-coating the issue, regular Malaysians lose interest or are caught in confusion. Either way, they are uncertain how to respond to everyone being freed of the charge.
Separately but equally baffling, the former MCA president Ling Liong Sik is also acquitted of cheating charges related to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) debacle. Over RM12 billion went to waste, and no one is seen to be responsible.
Minority rights
The Home ministry’s successful appeal against the church meant “Allah” by the operation of the law was now only the property of Muslims in Malaysia.
The parties elect
Umno elections confirmed that things never really change at the old party. Sharizat Jalil was already removed as a minister on April 8, but she managed to keep her Wanita chief position in the party’s October elections. Khairy Jamaluddin defends his Youth chief position, underlining his growing stature within the party rank and file.
PAS do their election, and heat on its deputy president Mohamad Sabu intensifies with his re-election. It does suggest that BN fears that with Mat Sabu in a key position, Pakatan relations will only blossom especially with his close friendship with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. For now there is a witch-hunt for Shiahs which BN continues to associate Mat Sabu with.
The third party with a Malay spine, PKR, put their elections off to May 2014.
Incidences and responsibilities
PSY comes to Malaysia, goes to Penang, dances, won’t cut cake, does not hear delirious clapping cheerlead by reporter, accompanied by prime minister and then was almost killed, not killed, threatened, actually it was another guy and then the story dies.
International phenomenon PSY agrees to perform for BN Penang’s Chinese New Year show and the prime minister finds a hostile crowd waiting for him despite his government bringing their favourite artist.
On June 6 the new and hyped Second Penang bridge has a section collapse. A week later a freak storm on June 13 results in a large tower pole off the Umno building falling off and killing a motorist.
A day later on June 14, Putrajaya asks for an additional RM13.8 billion on top of Budget 2013 to manage expenses for the year.
Residents in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur play the guessing game on when the next prolonged water shortage will occur. Between the excuses by water concessionaire Syabas that they are not getting enough funding and access to Pahang water, and the state that if they bought over Syabas all problems will go away, regular people continue to suffer. The present sentiment is that Syabas with the Umno Selangor treasurer at the helm is trying to score political points.
Chin Peng dies on Sept 16. The former leader of the Malayan communist party was immediately denied a funeral in Malaysia. Even his ashes being brought into the country from his place of residence in Bangkok was seen as a national threat.
Dam water was released in Cameron Highland and itinerant workers are killed by the water. There are heavy speculations that unregulated development nearby had caused the situation. On the other famous highland on August 21, where Genting Casino is located, a bus flies off a ridge and kills 37, mostly foreigners.
There are a slew of worthy mentions: Our universities have fallen even more but nowhere as aggressively as our public schools; A couple of Malaysians were killed when their plant in Algeria was captured by terrorists; Australian Senator Nick Xenophon is deported after arriving at KLIA sparking a short diplomatic concern; a Malaysian finds that elusive sharpness to bribe the US Navy; Indian men still die in police lockups and Perkasa make more ludicrous demands, none of them about ensuring better facilities for prisoners.
And oh yes, we turned 50 as a nation this year. In all the activity during the first three quarters, everyone seemed to have forgotten that Malaysia turned 50 years old September 16.
While many can’t wait for 2014, I want it to take the foot off the gas, it is too sapping. But for now, let’s toast to the year for the days remaining.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
