On the Segamat Ceramah Experience *updated*

Now, yesterday 24 April 2013, I was in Segamat to attend to a customer who is also a friend. He asked me to come down to Segamat specifically because there will be a major ceramah involving DSAI in Segamat at Padang Kg. Abdullah in the middle of town. So naturally I said ok and I made the journey down there. As I was alone and only armed with a Iphone 4 which the camera quality is deteriorated, I couldn't take any photos along the way.

What I can tell you is the Star Reporter got it all wrong: Banners were sprouting everywhere and Bilik Gerakan for both sides of the divide quite active putting up more. Some important intersections were full of banners, fish tails and long banners alike. And for a 'sleepy' town like Segamat, election fever has hit the people there hard like anywhere else. 

So round 1 was tea time and my friend's friend came with a sticker of 'No to Lynas' on his shirt. We were engaged in an animated discussion of politics and election, exchanging news and were leaning on the fact that it looks like Pakatan is having the edge in Segamat. However, we leave that till we see the crowd in the ceramah that night. 

So later my friend picked me up and then we go had dinner nearby the padang (the fried kueh tiaw with sauce is good). After dinner at about 9 pm we walked across the road and joined the ceramah.

Ho and behold: the crowd was big for Segamat standard! At the time we joined the crowd we estimated to be about 5 - 10 thousand people already present. Speaker after speaker goes up and speak and one that had my attention and to my surprise a good speaker is Cikgu Normala of PAS. She is the DUN candidate for Pemanis and also the ex-candidate for Tenang by-election (remember the flood on the day of the election: she is the poor soul I thought was a victim of the weather and lost the by-election by a bigger margin then). 

She is a good speaker and she has a clear and direct voice which for me is a first as generally very few women from PAS are prominent in the ceramah circuit. She is quite young and fiesty and according to my friend, she got guts and have substance and she is very friendly. She hammered the points home one after the other and I thought she is one of the better speakers of the night. 

As the night wore on, the crowd grew. From the earlier estimates it probably swell to a good 15 thousand although some say as many as 20 - 30 thousand that night. Hard to estimate as it is night time. But a very big crowd, the largest in recent history in Segamat for a political ceramah where NO FREE FOOD OR GOODIES. I wonder if BN can do the same with the same conditions. 

Salahuddin Ayub and Chua Jui Meng were the two last speakers before DSAI arrived. They fired up the crowd and got it going. Salahuddin endeared himself with the Chinese by saying that his mother is Chinese. He was hammering home the point that he will defend all the races and the constitution in regards to religion, special rights and the rights of the other minorities. One very articulate speaker and a possible good candidate for MB if they ever win Johor.

 Chua was quite a good speaker though not as smooth as Salahuddin and were actually trying to get the crowd fired up before the finale. So, when DSAI walked in the crowd roared with approval. I can feel the mood of the crowd changed into expectations that something great is happening. It gives me the creeps and yet it also gave hope that people have finally found someone else other than from UMNO to lead this country. Malays, Chinese and Indians were all present in good numbers, young, old, women and children too. 

DSAI went into his speech with gusto and repeating the familiar things I have heard over the past days over the online tv ceramahs by him. However, for the Segamat folks, some of them hearing for the first time. They lap up every word he says, laugh at every jokes he poked at his adversaries, listened intently when he outlines what he wants to do when he becomes Prime Minister. I believe that night alone many fence sitters would have been convinced by him and many more will in turn spread what he said.

All in all, it was a tiring but satisfying night. To see that crowds like this has never been seen in an UMNO-BN stronghold attending Pakatan ceramah, it is a feeling that something might just happen on 5th May 2013. 

Oh ya. On a lighter note, the pasar malam people are really tailing the Pakatan Ceramah like how the Digi Yellow Man....'I will follow you, follow you wherever you may goooo...'. Poor owner of Sekinchan Ikan Bakar who mentioned that hawkers lost business. They have ROARING business yesterday night!

MCA FT Sing-a-long VS Ubah Song (Pakatan Rakyat)

So who you think sings better? I think the answer is very clear. LOL.

Will the fear of voting PAS by the Chinese or voting DAP for the Malays go the way of the Dinosaurs?

At this stage, anything can happen. In the past especially in 1999, the Chinese and Indians were spooked by the PAS specter and therefore they voted BN which led to the disaster for DAP. Forward to yesterday, the 48 hour 'crisis' DAP has to endure on the ROS letter which nearly scuttle the Rocket symbol. 

I believe if BN had anything to do with it (which i think they do), they did not ever imagine that both PAS and PKR will step forward and offer their symbols and DAP dare to use them. And the outpouring rage and sympathy for DAP was totally overwhelming. The cyberspace was totally flooded with support for the use of PAS and PKR logo while ROS and BN took the worst flak I have ever seen. 

Although ROS did reverse on their decision late on Friday Night, the damage has already been done. Chinese in particular took it very hard as it is seen as an underhanded attempt to kill off DAP before the election itself. But what scared BN was the surging support for the use of the PAS logo in West Malaysia. Within that 48 hours, the Chinese supporters of DAP were busy preparing PAS flags, banners, etc in anticipation that the Rocket symbol cannot be used. 

And what broke the myth that Chinese will not support PAS at all was the fact that Chinese turned out decked in PAS t-shirts while waving PAS flags alongside the DAP flags and banners. Although DAP could use their Rocket symbol in the end, the myth looks dead and buried. 

Another test was the mega-ceramah in Skudai last night. It was in the people's mind: will the Chinese come and attend while receptive to Salahuddin Ayub from PAS and also waving PAS flag and wear PAS t-shirt, hats etc? 

See for your self the article below:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/daps-johor-campaign-begins-with-loud-cheers-from-chinese-for-pas/

I myself believe that if all three parties in Pakatan Rakyat has equal standing and rights (by giving three enough seats to rule the country), they will see eye to eye on national issues even though they may have different ideologies. If this year is the year that Malays will vote DAP and Chinese will vote PAS, then the end is nigh for BN and their racial 'rule and divide' policies. 

INI KALILAH!

For those who has facebook go to lim kit siang's page for more photos

Ubah Rocket Style!

Just to bring that the video again:

Have fun watching it!

ROS of Contradictions!

It was reported that late yesterday a hand-delivered letter addressed to Saudara Lim Guan Eng has indicated that DAP can use their symbol. However, no mention on the recognition of the CEC of DAP in that letter. This still does not change the strategy of DAP for today's nomination day. It will be to try to use the Rocket Symbol first then if it fails then the other 2 symbols of their pakatan partners will be used. 

It seems ROS has succumb to public pressure but they may still be somethings hidden from plain sight. Let's watch today's events unfold. 

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227413

A FAINT HOPE WHICH ENDURE

As I write this, the series of events that unfold in the last 2 days really turn heads. ROS has refused to retract the letter that states the fact that ROS does not recognized the CEC leadership of DAP therefore directly impacting the ability of DAP to authorize letter to approve the use of the Rocket symbol to its candidates. If this happens before 308, then DAP will have to make all its candidates stand as Independents and therefore crippled before the fight began. 

Today, I see the real meaning of true partnerships and brotherhood between the 3 parties in Pakatan, DAP, PAS and PKR. They may have quarreled, fought over seats, disagreed on policies and beliefs, etc, etc, but in the face of adversity, the other two partners immediately stepped in and offered assistance. In this time of adversity, DAP will use PAS logo in peninsular Malaysia while PKR logo is used in East Malaysia. 

Something probably never would exist in many people's wildest dreams / nightmares. I believe this is all part of something greater and those who plotted the fall of DAP will now have to pray hard that the use of the 2 other logos will help BN. If not, it will be the 'game-changer' as mentioned by LKS. To see his tears brings tears to many of us as he lived, breathed the party and its symbol for as long as he can remember. To be unable to use it really can break a man's heart. 

I believed that one of the reasons that this could have happen is the fact that Lim Guan Eng and Mat Sabu shared a great friendship and brotherhood forged in the fires of persecution and the fact that Anwar worked so hard to forge this disparate group of people into one cohesive alliance (no matter how much differences they have because BN has the same issues too) after going through the hell he went through since 1990s. These are just few of those I can mention. Many more stories of comradeship and friendship among these three parties are left untold.

The hope that this is a start to something bigger and better and that we finally see a change in Pakatan for good. So, my family, friends and countrymen, Believe in hope however faint it is, believe in change. UBAH!

Shame on ROS, EC and BN!

The threat of not able to use the Rocket symbol now hangs over all DAP potential candidates for the up-coming election. It's a shame as ROS has agreed to postpone the hearing till after the election. But they have the gall to issue the letter to suspend the CEC of DAP until then. 

What does that mean? It means that there is currently no recognised leadership in DAP therefore making it impossible on legal grounds for it to issue authorisation to contest under the DAP banner or use the Rocket Symbol. And our Main Stream Media on the roll saying that EC confirms VERBALLY that DAP can use the symbol. No official or written letter. How apt! 

It may end up in a few scenarios if DAP continue to try to use their Rocket Symbol:

1. To be declared on NOMINATION DAY by EC that the authorization letter is not valid therefore all DAP candidates will be declared INDEPENDENT and have to use various symbols. Directly this will impact campaigning as there will be plentiful of independent candidates and will confuse voters.

2. After nomination day and before election, it is declared that it is not legal to use the symbol therefore disqualifying all DAP candidates and banning the use of the Rocket Symbol on the grounds that the authorization is illegal.

3. After Election day, UMNO-BN go to court and get the court to declare the results where DAP won illegal and void as they have no authorization to use the Rocket Symbol. 

How low have they stooped. When UMNO party elections were tainted by money politics, ROS stand by the side and did nothing and UMNO say that its internal matters. Now DAP did a technical error and they want their blood by hook or by crook. 

This is abominable and disgusting. I hope every Malaysian is disgusted at this current situation and will continue to support change and vote which ever logo they will end up using to avoid the above scenarios. 

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227266

ROS sabotage of DAP in the cards?

Latest news from Malaysiakini: DAP got a letter from ROS saying that they do not recognise the CEC line up in DAP from the recent election. 

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227199

Now, no inquiry yet, not much of an investigation and we are in the midst of an election season. Smells like an awfully smelly fish. Why not go after UMNO when their people got indicted for money politics when their party elections were carried out? 

DOUBLE STANDARD. I have a bad feeling they gonna screw DAP inside out and hope to disrupt Pakatan's election campaign. This is just SOOOOO 'BNish'.

HOT NEWS: UMNO to take on DAP in Johor?

Rumours has it that UMNO wants to take on DAP directly in MCA seats rather than MCA themselves especially in Johor. This is a big slap in MCA face although UMNO on paper would stand a better chance against DAP because they believe that the Malay votes are more dependable. 

I wonder how now MCA gonna campaign as they have totally lost their credibility if they allow UMNO to contest all their seats in Johor. CSL would have a lot to explain. AND the most important issue is that no one can assume that the malay vote support would remain the same, or change upwards or downwards. Nothing is standard. It's a new battlefield out there everytime there is an election. It might be worse if they swap seats as if the malay votes against MCA also they will lose more seats.

Read more:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/umno-mulls-straight-fights-with-dap-banks-on-malay-vote/

STOP QUARELLING AND SQUABBLING!

Now, the one thing i dislike about the Pakatan side is the squabbling over the seats. I can understand that everyone wants a shot at it but they have to put that aside and have the greater good of malaysia in mind. Once upon a time no one wants to stand but now everyone wants!

*Sigh* Hopefully they can sort out this ASAP and prevent any negative spillover effects on the support of the voters.

BTW, EC is meeting tomorrow to decide the dates....until then the prediction of dates continue.

The one example of 'creative' campaign strategies especially by DAP in the face of unequal access to media and the overuse of government machineries to campaign by BN. The other notable strategy is to introduce a campaign mascot in the form of 'Ubah', a hornbill:

 

The bird was an instant hit among Sarawakians when it first surfaced during the Sarawak State Election couple of years back. Totally sold out within a week, it reflects the changing of times where adorable mascots, rock-concert-like atmosphere and heavy duty ceramahs everyday all over the state with current leaders and also youth and upcoming members taking the center stage. 

The current addition is the use of mobile stages which are basically trailers or back of lorries or a bus (in PKR's case). This allows mobility and reduce the hassle of building a stage at every spot. Rather, a public space or car park will suffice. 

Not to lose out MCA also has a few of their own

 

In short, many new ideas are emerging. Of course there are some parties who ape what the other does or who are leading the way. The successful campaign strategies apart from the online running battles between BN and Pakatan are changing the landscape of politics in Malaysia. The usual tried and tested methods of house to house and ceramah alone may not work. The strategists of both sides need to be on their toes to come up with more creative ideas to stay ahead, especially when a significant number are young voters. 

Gelang Patah: A titanic clash in the making?

Since YB Lim Kit Siang was announced as the candidate for Gelang Patah in Johor, many mixed reactions are seen from the BN camp. It ranges from accusations of LKS running away from Ipoh Timor in Perak because he is scared to lose, or him abandoning his constituents, or he will surely lose in Gelang Patah, etc. 

One observation since the announcement by DSAI is that it seems that its utter panicking on the BN side. How can one person contesting in one seat can trigger such a response? It is known that Johor is the bastion of UMNO and extension BN. One reason BN survived the 308 tsunami is that Johor delivered all but one of the parliament seats alongside Sabah and Sarawak. But with the changing times, including the winds of change in the political arena in Singapore, BN has begun to realize the importance of defending Johor. 

With LKS in the picture, followed by Liew Chin Tong and co, MCA especially is seen to be under pressure to perform. On paper, MCA should be able to defend most of its seats. But due to the upsurge in support for Pakatan down south especially among the Chinese and with PAS and PKR making headways in UMNO strongholds, nothing can be taken for granted. The challenge of LKS to Chua Soi Lek has been turned down for obvious reasons: CSL cannot afford to lose this battle. 

So, he pushed the ball into MB Ghani's court. So will the current MB of Johor face off with one of the wily old fox of politics of Malaysia? We will only know on nomination day. It is a battle of importance not for LKS but for Pakatan. If he loses it is just one potential seat lost. But if he wins, he will not only earn one seat for Pakatan but trigger a domino effect on the surrounding seats. LKS and Pakatan has already started hitting the ground hard campaigning and the early results look promising. 

Now, it is up to BN on how to counter this offensive. They know that they ill-afford to lose but at the same time it seems BN has lost their plot. By deploying old hands such as TDM to condemn such a move by LKS and trying to sound confident in the MSM everyday, it only tell that BN is afraid. Not only in Gelang Patah but in every constituency in this country keen battles will be fought. BN will be stretched even further than 308 as every seat is really up for grabs either way. 

For more news on Gelang Patah:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/soi-lek-declined-facing-kit-siang-ghani-a-possibility-say-bn-sources/