Pakatan gets its referendum

Condolences to YB Roslan Shaharum’s (PAS) family – the MP for Bkt Gantang, Perak died in what seems to be a heart attack (or not.. I’m eyeing Anwar Ibrahim suspiciously on this one). But you can’t help but notice that Pakatan Rakyat is ever so intently focused on the silver lining here.

Former/present/to-be-former/concurrent/I-believe-I-have-included-all-the-views Mentri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin seems to be the prime candidate for the by-election, where it is ever so likely he would be able to increase the previous majority from 1,566 to something much higher. Short of something spectacular occuring before the by-election, like video footage of Nizar (who’s from the Islamist party, PAS) praying in a temple (don’t get any ideas, Najib), Barisan Nasional can expect a deep lashing.

Furthermore, it would be interesting where voters in the state constituency of Mohd Osman’s Changkat Jering, which is located within Bkt Gantang, would go (Osman was one of the defectors). It wouldn’t be pretty for one Mohd Osman, for sure.

No New Overlords

The frantic refreshing of Malaysiakini.com and The Star have abated, Anwar, Najib and Abdullah have long been banished from the front pages (and now even made their way into the World section) of Singaporean newspapers, and the only thing I look forward in mid-October is (hopefully, cross fingers) new Macbooks.

To be perfectly honest, I think Anwar Ibrahim is bluffing. Sure, there must be some defections, but perhaps not more than 31. And then again, Abdullah not daring to call on Anwar’s bluff (yeah, he won’t release names, as if the Special Branch detained a MP in the past few days or so… wait a minute).

In related news, I’ve lost most of my youthful confidence and idealism in democracy. People are stupid. Stupid people vote for slightly less, but still overwhelmingly, stupid people. Said stupid people make short-term decisions like bailing out AIG. That, and insidious PAP influence on my thinking. Maybe Malaysians needs a Lee Kuan Yew.

Beijing Must Be So Pleased

Ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, decided to send a bunch (some 78 of them, plus or minus, in fact) for a lawatan sambil belajar to Taiwan. Sure, they’re interested in how Taiwan deals with agriculture, but interestingly they picked Taiwan because China has stringent visa rules. Essentially to prevent them from defecting come 16 September (five more days!).

China regularly gets pissed at any form of political link with renegade province Taiwan, so it would be interesting how that pans out. Especially that it seems that Pakatan Rakyat’s (the opposition coalition) largest party, Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat, is sending four of themselves to the same, ahem, renegade province.

What surprises me is that no official statement has been made by Beijing when 78 Malaysian parliamentarians descend upon Taiwan. A territory that, under our imposed One China policy, does not exist politically (But meh, it’s not as if President Ma would use this to bring Taiwan closer to international recognition. Unfortunately).

Update: Maybe Googling will help:

Expressing China’s concern on the “agriculture study tour”, the embassy’s political affairs attaché, Chen Feng, said China has raised the matter with Malaysia as it is a big entourage and the members are all MPs.

Chen told Nanyang that the embassy was subsequently informed that the study tour was not an official mission.

“That (private tour) is what we have been told, but we hope they would visit China, Macau and Hongkong (instead). (A visit to) Taiwan is, after all, a bit sensitive,” he said.

However, he believed that no ties will be strained because of the Taiwan visit.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim confirmed that Wisma Putra has explained to the Chinese the study tour is a private mission.

How private. You would, however, be pleased to note that BN backbenchers aren’t treated like “three-year olds”. They have their mobile phones and passports at hand! Wee!

Honestly, a better idea is to visit a non-contentious country like New Zealand or Zimbabwe. Clearly not particularly well-thought off. Hope they do pick up a thing or two regarding land reforms while they’re there.

Racist Bigot Quota Restored

Ruling, Malay party, UMNO’s Bkt Bendera division chief, who himself is partially of immigrant Indian lineage while calling Malaysian Chinese as “penumpang” (squatters), was suspended from UMNO for three years. Restoring equilibrium to UMNO, Tun Dr Mahathir, former prime minister and famed anti-Semite, rejoins UMNO.