MORE PICS – IJOK Video-Khairy Jamaluddin Nearly Walloped; PKR Rejects Results; Phantom-Dead Voters; Irregularities; Fraud; Police Probe 20 Reports
The EC must be very dumb including its Secretary. He stated that it is an offense not to return the ballot papers and on the next breath he said: “the EC is unable to do anything. The booth to mark the ballot paper is a private place. “If the voter keeps the ballot paper as a souvenir, there is nothing we can do” Surely its agent can observe if after marking the ballots, the voter can be observed whether he inserted the slip into the box. Herein, lays the danger of vote’s manipulation.
If blank ballot papers can be smuggled out, unnoticed, the result can be manipulated. Is 143 a tip of the iceberg? Are these kept as "alteration votes" just in case there was a close tie and a recount is needed? How many of these blanks were bought over and at what price? PKR should make some noise on this matter and charge the EC for such a negligence (in not ensuring after the ballots paper are marked, are properly INSERTED in the boxes provided) and have the Ijok by-election declared “null & void” and have another round of “Ijok” and another RM100 million from BN.
Was this done in Ijok?
And this is what DAP RonnieLui’s explanation of the possibility.
“If you are still wondering why some 143 votes issued to voters but were not returned from one of the polling streams, let me tell you what could have taken place…
Voter A was asked to take out a blank voting ballot paper and pass it to a BN operator (usually undercover, not wearing the BN uniform or badges). Voter A will be paid RM200 or more for the blank ballot paper. The operator will then cross it as a vote for BN before pass it on to Voter B. Voter B will be asked to cast the ballot and at the same time retain the blank ballot paper and bring it out to the operator. This exercise went on until the entire polling is over. Trust me, these ’missing’ 143 ballot papers were not retained by voters as souvenirs (as claimed by the Secretary of Election Commission)”
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Watch the Video Clip ( 53.16 s) “Khairy Jamalludin Nearly Walloped” on Ijok By election. It was act of provocation to dress the MaCik in the UMNO Wanita Colours of Red & white to warrant a reaction from the PKR camp.
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Anwar's party disputes Malaysian by-election result;
"This is not a defeat for our party. This is an insult to our democratic system," Keadilan said in a statement. Voting over the weekend in Ijok was carried out amid tight security, with some 1,000 policemen deployed to secure the area. Hundreds of rival supporters were kept apart by security forces as they hurled insults back and forth on polling day, while heavily armed anti-riot police were on guard at a hall where the votes were tallied. Keadilan said it "found irregularities and evidence of fraud, intimidation, bribery and cheating by Barisan Nasional," on polling day, adding that the high voter turnout was "extremely suspect." It said the use of police and government machinery had created an atmosphere of fear in the semi-rural constituency. "There were voters who arrived only to find their votes used by unknown persons. There are those who had passed away and yet their votes were cast," Keadilan said.
Anwar had campaigned for Keadilan, formally run by his wife, against the powerful ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The weekend poll was widely touted as a litmus test of popularity for both sides ahead of a general election expected before 2009. It marks Anwar's first major return to
Police Open 28 Files Relating To Ijok By-election
LANGKAWI, April 29 (Bernama) -- Police have opened 28 files to investigate various reports received during the Ijok by-election that was won by Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate K. Parthiban. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan (ABOVE) said that among the cases was an incident where Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been blocked from visiting a BN booth on the polling day. Others included obstructing the police from carrying out their duty, minor clashes, tearing down posters and preventing voters from going to the polling centres.
One of the incidents were categorised as major, he said refusing to disclose who were being investigated. "After completing the investigations, the cases will be brought to the court," he told reporters after closing the international parachute jumping competition at the Langkawi sports complex. Musa also commended the Selangor police for being able to maintain order throughout the campaign period and on the polling day.
ABOVE & BELOW: The scuffle outside Sekolah Kebangsan Menegah, Ijok 
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ABOVE: the Keadilan Gang and BELOW: The BN Supporters backing their leaders
In KUALA SELANGOR, Selangor police chief Datuk Ismail Omar said police had received 20 reports of violence during the campaign period which ended at
ABOVE & BELOW: another scuffle with rival groups outside a polling centre
BELOW: The FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) is ever ready to restore order on the Polling day
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30 Students May Face Disciplinary Action For Campaigning In Ijok
JELI, April 29 (Bernama) -- About 30 students of public institutions of higher learning in the Klang Valley were found to have campaigned in the recent Ijok state by-election and may face disciplinary action, Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said. He said these students had participated in a house-to-house campaign in support of the political parties that contested in the by-election, polling for which was yesterday.
K. Parthiban of the Barisan Nasional (BN) won the seat, beating Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in the straight fight in the keenly contested by-election. "Disciplinary action can be taken against these students under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971," Mustapa told reporters after opening an English course for teachers in his parliamentary constituency of Jeli, here. He said the ministry was awaiting the findings of an investigation conducted by a monitoring committee comprising deputy vice-chancellors (student affairs) of public tertiary institutions before taking any action. The preliminary findings of the committee revealed that 30 students had taken part in the nine-day campaign, he said, adding that the ministry would determine the gravity of their involvement in the campaign before making any decision.
Mustapa advised students of public institutions of higher learning to abide by the act which prohibits their involvement in election campaigns, and said political parties should not take advantage of students. He said students were free to voice their opinions but through the proper channels. "The ministry frequently holds meetings with students of public institutions of higher learning and students are free to voice their opinions at these forums, including criticising the government," he said. He dismissed claims that many students of public institutions of higher learning were inclined to support opposition political parties and said students were not involved in the several skirmishes that had occurred during the intense campaigning in the Ijok by-election.
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Ijok By-Election Sees Biggest Number Of Unreturned Ballot Papers
ABOVE: The EC Secretary. Do you buy & believe his story that voters are taking out "blanks" as souvenirs?
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The biggest number of unreturned ballot papers was recorded in today's Ijok by-election when 143 people did not deposit the papers in the ballot boxes.Election Commission (EC) Secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Mohd Noor (ABOVE) said that of the 10,195 ballot papers issued, 143 were not returned, as found out at the vote tallying centre at the Batang Berjuntai Community Hall, here.Polling in the Ijok by-election began at 8 am and ended at 5 pm at all the nine polling centres in the constituency. Kamaruzaman said Section 3(1) of Election Offences Act 1954 stipulated that it was an offence not to return a ballot paper. He said the practice of not returning the ballot paper occurred at every general election or by-election. He said it was an irresponsible act and was a loss for the voters concerned because they wasted the opportunity to elect a candidate to represent them. "The EC is unable to do anything. The booth to mark the ballot paper is a private place. If the voter keeps the ballot paper as a souvenir, there is nothing we can do," he told Bernama. He said however that if a voter is caught with the ballot paper on him or her, they can be liable to a two-year jail term and a fine of RM5,000, or both.
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It's nasi lemak and lauk that matter; Zainon Ahmad
BATANG BERJUNTAI (April 30, 2007): In the final analysis it all comes down to bread and butter issues or maybe just bread and butter – or nasi and lauk (supporting dishes). The people of Ijok are simple rural folk for whom nasi and lauk are far more immediate and important than participatory democracy or constitutional guarantees. So there are corruption and nepotism, they asked, but like poverty, aren’t they suppose to be normal phenomena everywhere. What is change and what is reformasi? What jot of a difference will they make to their lives? Yes, they remember the jailing of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but that was so long ago. Did he think of Ijok then? What has distant
To them they are nice stories, perhaps as entertaining as the variety shows put up by the various troupes every night in Pekan Ijok or as exciting as the performances by "MGR" and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu. But for the people of Malay-majority Ijok – Malay 52%, Indian 28% and Chinese 20% – all they want is to have rice on their tables and assurances that they will have it, and lots of it, everyday and with some lauk, of course. If they can have better clothes, too, why not. And why not also better houses, paved streets that reach right to the front of their houses, better, wider and pothole-free roads, street lamps and traffic lights. And if people suddenly appeared and began repairing their dilapidated mosques, temples and churches, why say no. And if the government promises to approve their applications for land – which have been sitting in the land office for so long, some as long as a generation – on which to build their houses and plant their vegetables, is it so strange that they should thank the giver.
True, they have been overlooked for some time but the government made up for the years of neglect by bringing forward projects meant for them years ahead. And the government not only said sorry but Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo even promised to look after Ijok. Against all that the government gave and promised to give as pledged by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, Najib and Khir, there was little Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim, candidate Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, president Wan Azizah Ismail and other officials of the party could do to prevent the haemorrhage of votes from its mainstay of support – the Malays. About 60% of the Malay votes went to Keadilan in 2004 and BN won only on the support of the Chinese and Indians from Batang Berjuntai, Sungai Darah and Tuan Mee.
And it was earlier thought that was how the voting pattern for this by-election was going to be, especially after it became known that MIC’s K. Parthiban was the candidate despite calls by Umno grassroots leaders that a Malay should be nominated. But once the tide was turned, it remained irreversible despite Keadilan campaigners’ continued insistence right up to polling day for Malay voters to vote the opposition party as its candidate is a Malay. Thus, BN was able to wrest the Malay-majority polling districts of Jaya Setia, Bukit Badong, and Simpang Ijok from Keadilan while causing it to retreat somewhat in Kampung Ijok. Most of the Indian voters remained loyal to the MIC as can be seen in the Indian-majority constituency of Tuan Mee, where out of the 788 Indian voters and 219 Malay voters, Keadilan only managed to get 145 votes. So was in Indian-majority Sungai Darah – 598 Indian voters and 506 Malay voters – where Keadilan netted only 192 votes.
But it was the Chinese voters, whom BN was counting on earlier, who disappointed the coalition. BN noticed the mood swing early and quickly went on a huge offensive in Malay areas. There was something that Anwar said that made sense to them. Though Keadilan put up a credible fight against all that the BN was able to bring to bear on it, what is clear is that the party failed to re-ignite the kind of interest it was able to kindle in 1999. There was no fresh approaches. It campaigned the way the BN and Umno conduct their campaigns – understandably so as most of its leaders came from there – but lacks the resources of the coalition and its main party. And because Anwar himself was out in the battle field, his party’s failure will reflect badly on his leadership and his capability of trying to wield together the disparate opposition into a formidable force to challenge the BN whenever the general election is called – which may be sooner rather than later.
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No Untoward Incident In Ijok Polls, Says IGP
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The Ijok by-election proceeded smoothly with no untoward incidents, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan (ABOVE) said today. As of this evening, only one police report was lodged on opposition supporters blocking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his aides heading to the Jaya Setia polling station. He said the police would investigate the incident in which several members of Najib's delegation were allegedly attacked and injured. Najib had said a group of men wearing Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) shirts and badges blocked his car and four accompanying vehicles on a road leading to the Jaya Setia polling station at about 10.30am.
ABOVE; Najib'car was blocked for a short while and BELOW: forced out of the car to greet his supporters
The tense moment was defused by the police. Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said opposition supporters went overboard in their provocative actions to the extent of blocking the Deputy Prime Minister. "I don't understand why these sort of incidents occur whenever we meet PKR members while such things did not happen when we faced Pas in Kelantan before," he told reporters at the Batang Berjuntai police station. He said the atmosphere in the Ijok by-election was very different, with the opposition resorting to provocative moves throughout the campaign period, as compared with previous by-elections. "Nevertheless, I'm proud of the Umno Youth who refrained from retaliating to the provocations and maintained their discipline," said the Education Minister.
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Stone-Throwing Incident Mars Final Moments Of Polling
ABOVE: The suspected bus carrying "phantom" voters were stopped and BELOW: Police response to the obstruction.
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Hurling stones on two buses carrying Wanita Umno vote-canvassers marred the otherwise smooth polling in the keenly-fought Ijok by-election today. However, nobody was injured in the
ABOVE: The scuffle with riot police and BELOW: the cracked windscreen of bus hit by stones
When the passengers ignored the order, the angry mob started hurling stones at the bus in front, causing the windscreen to crack. Policemen and Federal Reserve Unit personnel promptly swung into action to control the situation and calm down the tense moment.
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Ijok Victory Boosts BN Confidence, People Again Reject Opposition
By Roslan Ariffin
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The victory of K. Parthiban in the Ijok by-election today was sweet for the Barisan Nasional (BN) as it boosted confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Even as at 6.30 pm, the BN machinery began to show indications of a victory although the official result was only announced at about 8.40 pm. Parthiban, 38, polled 5,884 votes to beat Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, 61, of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) by a majority of 1,850 votes.The victory was all the more meaningful for the BN because the contest this time round gauged its capability against the influence of PKR led by its adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Since returning to active politics, this is the first time that Anwar had given his full attention to an election campaign along with the "strong men" of the PKR. The contest was so intense that even Abdullah went to the ground to give the BN machinery a boost. Abdullah said tonight the by-election result showed that the people rejected PKR and Anwar and took no heed of the opposition proposal for an alternative to the BN. The intensity of the competition from the PKR gave the BN renewed strength to prove its fortitude when all component parties worked hard to ensure the victory of a non-Malay candidate in a Malay-majority constituency.
Parthiban won comfortably in a constituency where the Malays had initially asked for Umno to field a candidate. The constituency was held by the MIC since 1990. The BN victory was sweeter when Parthiban beat not just any candidate but PKR member Khalid, a corporate leader who is said to have helped the Malays a lot and was assisted in the campaign by other opposition parties, such as DAP and PAS. The opposition should blame no one for having lost in five by-elections since the general election in 2004, beginning with Kuala Berang (Terengganu), then Pengkalan Pasir (Kelantan), Batu Talam (Pahang), Machap (Melaka) and now Ijok (Selangor). It was their own mistake of not accepting the reality of a change in the mindset of the people.
The opposition parties will have no more opportunities to test the people again in a by-election as the Ijok contest might be the last before the next general election, going by the Election Commission rules. The result of the Ijok by-election is also a message for the PKR that its campaign based on racial lines and hurling slanderous accusations could no longer be accepted by the people who were wise enough to see through these. It must also be realised that the reformation movement could no longer win over the hearts of the people who wanted peace and not confrontation. Today's defeat of the PKR perhaps lends weight to what some Umno leaders have said of Anwar, that the era of his winning the hearts of the people through his speeches may be over. Perhaps, Anwar should accept the fact that right now Abdullah is the leader in the hearts of the people. As Abdullah said, the people of Ijok paid no heed to the campaign of Anwar but held steadfast to the assurance given by the BN to take care of them. Abdullah is more at ease now in determining the most suitable date for the next general election.
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Ijok Win Shows BN Still Popular Among The Masses, Says Najib
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (ABOVE) tonight said that the Barisan Nasional (BN) victory in the Ijok state by-election is testimony to the continued popularity of the ruling government among the people. Observing that the rakyat continued to have faith in the BN, the Deputy Prime Minister said the win also illustrated their unflinching support for the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. "This is a truly significant victory as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had launched a very aggressive campaign... they hurled all sorts of slander against BN leaders. But we remained stoic and patient," he told reporters after the announcement of the result of the by-election at the Batang Berjuntai community hall here. Pointing out that the BN had chalked up an increased majority in Ijok compared to the one garnered in the 2004 general election, Najib said the rakyat had opted for a responsible party, mindful that their future was inextricably linked to the BN.
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Of today's victory, Najib said: "The people have rejected the opposition by putting their trust in the BN." On the high voter turnout of 81.88 per cent, the highest ever in the country's election history, he said: "It shows that democracy is very much alive in the hearts of the voters and they had exercised their right as enshrined in the constitution. I view this as something positive." Najib noted that with the latest win, BN notched up its fifth consecutive by-election success, of which four with increased majority, including in the just-concluded Ijok polls. He also denied the existence of "phantom voters" in Ijok as alleged by the opposition. Najib hoped that the Kuala Selangor-born Pathiban would do his best to fulfil the aspirations of the Ijok electorate. He was also asked whether the BN victory in Ijok pointed to an imminent general election. "This is a good precursor for the next general election," he replied. However, the deputy prime minister said the timing of the next general election would depend on many other factors. "But we don't want to reveal (it). I'm sure the prime minister will know when to call (for the next general election)," he added.
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BN Victory In Ijok Proof People Reject Anwar, PKR, Says PM
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Abdullah said the voters of Ijok clearly took no heed of Anwar's campaign and held steadfast to the assurance of the BN government to take care of them. "I hope that Parthiban will be a better elected representative than his predecessor. He has promised me that he will be an excellent elected representative," he said.
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Referring to the increased majority garnered by Parthiban, the prime minister said this reflected the confidence of the people in the BN as a party that was prepared to serve in the interests of the nation's benefit and progress. "I express my thanks to the voters who have shown confidence in the BN," said Abdullah, stressing that parliamentary democracy was very much alive in the country when the people make their choice with confidence. Abdullah, who is also BN chairman, said he was happy with the hard work put in by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo in guiding the BN machinery to win over the hearts of the people in the by-election.
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"Although some people had predicted a heavy defeat for the BN (in Ijok), the results have shown it is a big win for the coalition," he said. Abdullah said the BN would continue to carry out its responsibility to the people despite what the opposition had to say. "(For them) whatever we do is not right... they always want to pass judgement and criticise. If something falls short, they will hurl all sorts of criticism at even the leaders," he said.
On the next general election, the prime minister said everything that has taken place in each by-election would be taken into account in determining a suitable time for the general election. Asked about the increase in the number of voters, especially among the young, Abdullah said it showed that there was awareness and they were beginning to play a part in ensuring a BN victory. Abdullah said development would continue to be the agenda of the BN in facing every election, that is, in bringing prosperity to the people.
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BN Component Parties' Hardwork Yielded Victory - Samy Vellu
KUALA SELANGOR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional's (BN) success in securing a higher majority in the Ijok by-election is largely due to the hardwork of BN component parties in tackling issues raised by the opposition. MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said this included the efforts by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who spearheaded the party's machinery in reaching out to almost all voters in the constituency. "Not only just the hardwork but also the effort by the prime minister and deputy prime minister in convincing the voters to vote for BN for a higher majority," he told reporters.
The Works Minister said he had identified and prepared a complete programme to be implemented in Ijok after the by-election. BN's MIC candidate K. Parthiban, 38, defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim with an increased majority of 1,850 votes. MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said he was happy with the convincing majority despite the fact that PKR had gone all-out in its attempt to defeat the BN. "It was a real test for (PKR adviser) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because he had done almost everything he could to help the PKR candidate to win this by-election. However, the voters still decided to vote for the BN," he said. People's Progressive Party (PPP) President Datuk M. Kayveas said Malaysian voters are matured enough to understand the difference between allegations and accusations and development and progress for their future during an election campaign.
"This BN win is a clear message by the voters to the opposition that in any election, please let the voters know what is the future that the opposition can bring or promise the voters, rather than always bringing personal and private matters which are irrelevant to the development and progress of their constituency," said Kayveas, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon thanked the voters in Ijok for supporting the BN. I congratulate the BN and Parthiban for winning (the) Ijok (seat) with an increased majority. This shows that the voters have confidence in the BN led by our Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi).
"Credit also goes to Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) for a great campaign. I'm sure Parthiban will be a good elected representative," he said. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the voters, particularly the young voters, had decided to elect a leader who could bring about change instead of merely talking. "Parthiban is among the young leaders who fulfills the needs of the younger generation and can serve the people well," he said. He said the positive trend of the people in giving undivided support to the BN government was good for the future of the country. Mohamad Khir also said that the opposition, following the defeat, should realise that racial politics could not be accepted by the people. In LANGKAWI, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid described the BN victory with a bigger majority as proof of the people wanting the coalition to continue administrating the country. Expressing congratulations to Abdullah as the prime minister, BN chairman and Umno president, Mahdzir said the victory showed that the BN was necessary for the people.
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Just Call Me Cikgu, Says Parthiban
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Parthiban, who is also Tanjung Karang MIC division secretary, said he would work to honour all promises made by BN to the people in the by-election. Among the main issues he would strive to resolve are land titles, welfare aid and street lights. "I will also fulfil my pledges to the constituents to the best of my ability. I will work hard for the people of Ijok," he said. Parthiban said the BN's victory was a victory to the BN election machinery and the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. "We had expected to retain the seat with a bigger majority," he said. expressing his gratitude to every BN component party for their hardwork to ensure his victory.
Asked whether he would end his bachelorhood now that he had become a "Yang Berhormat", to the laughter of his supporters, a grinning Parthiban, said: "I've not given a thought to it yet". Meanwhile, Khalid, a former corporate figure-turned businessman, said his defeat was not the end of his political career but instead marked the beginning of his active involvement with the opposition. "I will not quit politics," he told reporters at his residence. Khalid said he learnt a good lesson from the nine-day campaign period, especially on the need to strengthen the support machinery.
"I learned a lot and understood the need to prepare an effective support group for the next general election," he said. Khalid said he would not shy away if he was offered to contest again in the next general election.
posted by multidimid at 11:21 PM
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