Tuesday 6 November 2007

Is the election around the corner?

With so much speculation going around as to when the general election will be called, is the Deputy Prime Minister giving a hint that it will be held soon?

Last night, Datuk Najib Tun Razak, who is Umno Deputy President told party members to get ready for the next general election, and defined for them what readiness meant.

"To to step up their preparedness for the next general election" does not mean making new bush jackets or baju kurung in anticipation of becoming candidates.

"Nor does it include whispering campaigns, jostling against one another and moving about to and fro bringing along one's resume to lobby for candidacy.

"Our attitude should be one of acceptance. If we are chosen, well and good, if not then so be it, for there is always wisdom behind every decision."

Datuk Najib said this at the joint opening of the Youth, Wanita and Puteri's Umno wings' assemblies at the PWTC here. The event was telecast live.

They should instead get ready by activating the party's election machinery at all levels: ballot box areas, electoral constituencies, branch offices and divisions throughout the country, he said.

Najib said that while the date of the 12th general election was entirely the prerogative of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the reality of the country demanded that the general election be won with more than a two-thirds majority to ensure that "we can effectively govern and maintain stability".

"Our confidence in repeating our sterling success in the last elections is not without basis."

This, he added stemmed from the defeat of PAS in the Kuala Berang and Pengkalan Pasir by-elections, DAP in Machap, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in Ijok and the independent candidate in Batu Talam.

Najib said every single victory, with impressive majorities, was due to the people's resounding support for Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Bernama has the report here

In keeping with the theme of his speech, entitled "Elevating a National Civilisation", Najib called on Malaysians, especially the Malays, to constantly reach for the stars to help mould an outstanding civilization.

Malaysians, he said, have to dare to dream the impossible dream and pursue that dream relentlessly.

To achieve this, the nation has to use five main thrusts:

* A global peopel with first class mentality:

He spoke of the achievement of our angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukur was a "literal manifestation of our aspirations to elevate our civilisation and reach for the stars."

* Knowledge & education:

"The most important investment that a Malay family can make is not the procurement of land, property or fancy cars. The most important investment is the investment in our childrens education."

* Religion & culture:

"When embrace Islam...and while we do so, we recognise the constitutional rights and practice of other races to practise."

* Economic growth and equitable distribution (of the economic cake)

"The sharing of power should not be limited to the political realm but the sharing of economic power. Malays must be more active in economic activities to ensure that wealth distribution is more equitable."

* Political stability.

"The political reality of this country demands that we continuously win general elections, and win them with more than a two-third majority. Only then can we effectively govern and maintain stability."

For full text of his speech, read here

Tomorrow, party president Datuk Abdullah Badawi will address the 2,500 delegates from 190 division when he opens the three-day assembly, which will end on Friday.

His policy speech will be closely watched by delegates, members of the Barisan component parties and political observers for indication as to the direction the party will be taking as it prepares for the next general election.

24 comments:

Pak Zawi said...

Kak Ton,
The culture in UMNO has been casted in a mould that is very difficult to change now.
Dream the impossible, yes I am all for it but it must be done with care and ethics, not The Michiavellian way that is often the norms than exception.

Accia said...

kak maria,
sampai sekarang i wonder, why bush jackets?

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Ton,

I second Zainul. We have to go back to basics of what life is all about. Rekindle the human spirit to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

Stop giving excuses and blame others. Take up challenges to make a difference.

Create allies instead of bogeymen.

All of us are vulnerable to succumb to power and money. We must resist and desist the temptation to manipulate, control and dominate.

Allow the contest of ideas. Politicians must not feel threatened with differences in opinion.

Deny BN 2/3 majority to prevent laws and amendments be passed without a whimper.

Demand quality from our wakil rakyat.

cakapaje said...

Salam Ma'am,

Hmm...I pun nak tanya cam acciaccatura: why the bush jackets? Could it be a reminder of the colonial days when many of the rajahs wore one?

Hi&Lo said...

Kak Ton,

We must take heed of the warning, "Nationalism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

The acid test of whether a politician is a politician or a statesman lies in whether he makes the country serve him or he serves the country.

adik said...

kak ton,

Dato najib's five-point strategy for the creation of a new breed of "gloca" Malays,is nothing but a:

rehashed
reinvented and
rebranding old party propaganda.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Salam zawi,

I share your sentiments.

Dream the impossible. But our leaders must also face the realities on the ground.

There are more important issues at hand - soaring crime rate, inflation & corruption - which affect us, the ordinary rakyats.

What we need are leaders with greater integrity who inspire all Malaysians .

Walk the talk, they say, not just talk...and talk.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Hi acciaccatura,

sampai sekarang i wonder, why bush jackets?,?

Good question. Lol!

Some things never change - in Umno, acciaccatura.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Zainal: Salam my dear bro. I hear you. I know, I know. I can feel your frustrations.

You're damn right! At the end of the day, it is about our family.

It’s about bread & butter issues. Price rises are already hurting the wallets of Malaysians.

Bread now costs 20 to 30 sen more per loaf, and toll charges may be raised again next year.

So who gives a ... to Najib's Angkasa Tamaddun Bangsa ?

I dont.

Daphne Ling said...

Hi Aunty Maria,

All I can say is I hope all those words become a reality for the people...I really do...=)

IBU said...

Tok Mommy,

Most of the lanes in my 'taman' was resurfaced recently. So were some parts of the streets downtown Rawang.

Musykil saya jadinya. Macam dah nak election.... hehehe...

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

the MCA people were supposed to drop by my place since they made a promise like 2 months back. so far i have not heard anything from them. so based on this useless theory, i believe the stinking smell of GE is a far-distant away.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

hi&lo: Well said.

Deny BN 2/3 majority to prevent laws and amendments be passed without a whimper.

Well, there is always the ballot box. :)

I know where my vote’s gonna go.

Rockybru said...

Kak Ton,

I was given the English translation of Pak Lah's presidential address to the Umno GA.

My word! The quality of the translation is atrocious! It's littered with errors, I can tell you.

I am tempted to do a little posting on that but I don't wish to make the PM's waterface drop, ma.

Certainly don't want to get any of the 4th floor boys in trouble for such shoddy work. Not that we aren't familiar with the quality of their output so far!

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

cakapaje: Lol! Mungkin. Segak wot!

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

adik: I agree with you. Anyway, under the current administration, everything is about rebranding. We've heard all these before, haven't we?
.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

daphne ling: Me too. I really hope those catchy slogans will not end up as empty promises

tokasid said...

Salam Tok Mommy:

I believe it is around the corner , before the Feel Good atmosphere vapourises into thin air.

words are out that there will be:
1- Fuel price hike next year. Speculations I heard, it will be btwn 30 sen-50 sen per litre.Now thats gonna make big holes in our pockets and make everyone upset.
2- PLUS toll will likely increase too since most of the so called upgrading in Perak-KL and Seremban-Pagoh are almost ready.
3-With the above, transportation cost will go up too( unavoidable)and what do we get as a bonus?Right! Price increase of almost everything.

Now, I'm sure the present govt doesn't want to hold election when the rakyat are upset.

I might be wrong,but you know that I might be right( wah3...macam lagu Billy Joel pulak)

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Ibu: That has always been an indicator that the g.election is near, especially in the rural areas - in the ,“pendalaman.”, . Gravelled roads are tarred. Taktik biasa semenjak dulu yang digunakan untuk memancing undi among the simple rural folk in opposition-held areas.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
maria a samad (kak ton) said...

kerp: Actually, it doesnt matter when the g.e is going to be held, at least, as far as where I am concerned. Besok ke, lusa ke.

And I believe ramai para pengundi have already decided as to which party they're goin to vote for.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Rocky: Ha hah ha. What else is new? What do we expect coming from budak-budak yang hidung masih beringus?

Maybe, you should ma (do a little posting on that) - not that I think it would make much difference to Pak Lah.

Do you think Pak Lah would notice those errors?

Got a feeling he’d already given them a pat on the back & said “good job, boys, good job.”

He he he!

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Tokasid: If the Governmet knew how the rakyats feel right now, I dont think it would be calling for a G.Election that soon.

I dont know which planet the para pemimpin are coming from. Now Najib is talking about mengangkasakan orang Melayu. I think it will be a good idea to send those useless & good-for-nothing leaders themselves into space and never to come back.

Things aren't that good on the ground. But it seems, our leaders are in a world of their own and seolah-olah kaki mereka tak pijak di bumi nyata.

I call it "syok sendiri."

But yes, judging from the speeches of the para pemimpin Umno asking party members to close ranks and the promises pledged at the on-going party assembly, maybe the G. Elections will be called sooner.

Then again, I might be wrong.

Pak Idrus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.