GE 2008 - MCA No Confidence, Timing inappropriate; Playing Safe ALL seats; PM Abdullah: Anytime is good time - I decide; Zam: Opposition Instigators

If the Chinese soothsayers are correct for the rat year, they are “predicting losses” in the year and this is going to be a “highly competitive year”. Investors are told, like a rat they have to be “nimble”.

For the BN and PM Abdullah, the coming General Elections, the predictions are already coming true in the Year of the Rat. The writing is on the wall. The Hindraf Rally completely destabilized the hardcore traditional support coming from the Indians Community. According to Ghandi:
“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result”

And now MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has over the NTV7 network declared in Mandarin
"When the Chinese community is still unhappy and dissatisfied, we face a bigger challenge; we have to explain to let the community understand that the points raised by the opposition are wrong not good for the community"
The timing of the early Election is Not Right. And his Deputy Chan Kong Choy also said that MCA is playing safe and regarded every “seat as not safe”. So the MCA is not confident at all in the coming GE and this mean there will be “MCA losses” as well. Plus the “MIC losses” the BN would most likely be unable to hold on to the 2/3 Majority.

ABOVE: This 25ft Big Rat will be on displayed throughout the GE 2008 Election

When asked to comment on the wrong timing, he simply dismissed it saying” Anytime can be appropriate when I decide” - The “sleepy head” Abdullah is just not as nimble as the Rats who will finally gnawed away the BN 2/3 majority.The MB of Selangor also came out and condemn the MCA President for openly not supporting the PM and questioning him. For the UMNO, they are ever ready and have "no complains, very happy and Satisfied" as everything they demanded are almost immediately granted. When they want and make noise in the Ipoh-Padang Besar Rail award, 30% is quickly arranged for them.

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ABOVE: Datuk Seri On Ka Ting, MCA President (exclusive interview with NTV7:

"When the Chinese community is still unhappy and dissatisfied, we face a bigger challenge; we have to explain to let the community understand that the points raised by the opposition are wrong not good for the community"

== = = =and PM Abdullah Response: "anytime is good time decided by me"

February 07, 2008 18:15 PM
Any Time Is Apt For Polls, Says Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says any time he decides to call for the general election is a good time. "Rumours are rumours," the Prime Minister said when asked on talk that Parliament would be dissolved after the Chinese New Year.

"Any time is a good time when I decide to call for the election," he told reporters when asked to comment on political analysts' predictions that March was the best time for the polls in view of the school holidays. The election fever is being increasingly felt with the Prime Minister constantly being asked on the parliament dissolution date to pave the way for the 12th general election though the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's five-year mandate only lapses on May 16, 2009. The grapevine has it that the general election would be held in March, fuelled by positive factors such as the bull run in the stock market, which the Prime Minister had said the bourse's good showing reflected the confidence in the local stock market and the country's sound economic fundamentals.

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February 07, 2008 18:29 PM

People Will Not Fall For Opposition's Instigation, Says Zam

SUNGAI PETANI, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- The opposition's vote-wooing stunts, especially by the DAP, to incite the people to help the party change the present government in the coming general election will not gather public support.

Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said the people would not be easily swayed by the instigations and what more to change a government that had helmed the nation to the point of all races living in peace and harmony. The Opposition was under intense pressure to the extent of inciting the people for their selfish ends, he told reporters after attending a meet-the-people session at the Paya Nahu residential flats here Thursday. Zainuddin cautioned the people of the opposition's antics and their readiness to seize the slightest available opportunity to fish for support although the Barisan Nasional (BN) had never victimised any race. "The opposition only knows to make promises every time an election is around the corner and disappear after the election, rendering the government to bear the burden left behind by them," he said.

Zainuddin said agencies under his ministry have been constantly explaining the current issues to the people to give them the right perspective of events. The opposition had twisted the issues to their advantage, he said. He said RTM, as a responsible government broadcaster to the nation and the people, would continue to be firm to only air true information and not propaganda pieces.

On Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Zainuddin said Anwar had lost his influence as a leader and was putting up a three-face facade to the main races in the country. He said Anwar's ploy to raise issues on the Malays' special rights when giving speeches overseas and supporting the Hindu Rights Action Force (HIndraf) extremist group and the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) was merely to project himself as a hero in the eyes of the people. "Anwar likes to pretend and to pit one race against the other on the highly sensitive Malay special rights and privileges. "At the same time, he preaches about the interests of Chinese and Indians when addressing a non-Malay audience," he added.

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Large turnout at MCA, Gerakan CNY celebrations

By JANE RITIKOS, FLORENCE A. SAMY and MANJIT K ; STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: A bigger crowd turned up at the MCA and Gerakan open houses this year to welcome in the Year of the Rat with pomp and splendour.
Tens of thousands flocked on Thursday to Wisma MCA on Jalan Ampang and Menara PGRM for the MCA and Gerakan open house celebrations. Regardless of race, religion or social status, people came together as one and enjoyed a sumptuous meal and entertaining performances.

ABOVE: Abdullah Arriving and BELOW: all participated in "low Sang" to boast & try to revive up the sagging and no confidence spirits in MCA

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor visited both the MCA and Gerakan open houses together with MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and other politicians. Also present was former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. The stronger crowd turnout at the MCA and Gerakan open houses even caught the eye of the Prime Minister. "I see that there is more celebration this year compared to previous years whether at the MCA or Gerakan open house. "This is a very good sign as it shows the harmonious relationship between Malaysians is getting stronger and closer. "Regardless of race, people have come together to wish their Chinese friends a happy Chinese New Year, which makes the celebrations even merrier," he told reporters during a press conference at the Gerakan open house. Abdullah wished all Malaysian Chinese a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year and expressed hope that the New Year would bring lots of goodness not only to the Chinese, but to all Malaysians.

"We need to always remember the good relationship between the races. Such celebrations only further strengthen our ties. It is a real bonding process, a strength which is also part of Barisan Nasional," he added. MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting thanked all those who attended the MCA open house regardless of race, including political leaders, dignitaries, ambassadors, the public and tourists. "This is a tradition where Malaysians of all races come together to celebrate Chinese New Year and other festivals. "We will continue to fight for all Malaysians, regardless of race. The Malaysian spirit must be strengthened.

"Barisan Nasional will continue to guarantee the fairness and equality for all under the Federal Constitution," he told reporters at the MCA open house. "We hope 2008 will be a better year. If we work hard and unite, we can overcome any challenges," he added. Gerakan acting president and Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said he was thankful for the good response this year especially from the Malays and Indians as it showed the harmonious relationship between races. "Normally, we get about 6,000 people but this time, some 10,000 turned up (for the open house) to celebrate Chinese New Year. "I am confident that this harmonious spirit will help us overcome challenges in the future," he told reporters at the Gerakan open house.

= = == == = == = =Thursday, 07 February 2008

Market players must be nimble in new year; Chen Shiyin; Bloomberg News
Chinese astrologer Tony Tan, a former broker at DBS Securities, made money for his clients in 2007 by telling them Asian equity markets would turn in "peak performances" in the year of the pig. He's predicting losses in the year of the rat, which begins today. "Just like a rat, investors will have to be nimble," said Singapore-based Tan, an astrologer since 1995 and founder of the Harmony Academy of Chinese Metaphysics. "It's going to be a highly competitive year."
Chinese astrology, based on a mix of philosophy and astronomy dating back more than 3,000 years, has 12 animals that combine with five elements to define each year, making up a 60-year cycle. This year the rat, a "water" creature, combines with the "earth" cycle, another unstable combination according to Tan.
Stock markets are already falling. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 9 percent in January, its worst monthly performance since 2001, after a 12 percent gain last year. Benchmarks in 11 of the region's 14 largest markets including China, Hong Kong and Singapore reached all-time highs in the year of the pig. MSCI's Asian index reached a record on Nov. 1. Tan expects markets to bottom out in April, a "dangerous" month for stocks because of clashing elements. Prices may rebound as the year of the rat continues, without setting new highs, he said. "The year of the pig was one of optimal strength," Tan said. "We're not going to see a repeat of those gains." More than 60 percent of 1,572 South Koreans surveyed recently said they had consulted an astrologer for the lunar new year or planned to do so, according to CareerNet Co., an online job-information provider in Seoul.
Some fortune tellers are more bullish than Tan. Malaysia-based Joey Yap said there will be plenty of opportunities to profit this year. "There's uncertainty, but there's also a lot of activity and growth," Yap said. Investors should buy shares of companies in the commodity-related, medical and transportation industries, he said, citing their favorable elements in this lunar year.

= == = == == = =Background – Chan K C is playing safe also without much confidence
February 02, 2008 17:24 PM

MCA Not To Regard Any Seat As safe

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- The MCA will not regard as "safe" any of the seats it will contest in the next general election and will work hard to secure all of them, party deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong
Choy said Saturday. "The party has never taken things easy by regarding any particular seat as safe in any election," he said. "The party's philosophy is to work hard in all the constituencies that it will contest," he told reporters after launching the mobile clinics for MCA's Crisis Relief Squad in Serdang near here. The relief squad was set up in 2005 as a disaster response team. It has rendered assistance in major post-disaster periods, mainly related to floods.

Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who was also present, told Bernama that her team had readied the election machinery for her constituency and was prepared for the general election. A proven positive track record for candidates contesting in the general election is very important so that they (constituents) will know whom they can rely upon," she said. Chew expressed her gratitude to MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting for recommending her to defend the Petaling Jaya Utara seat in the next general election. Ong had reportedly said that Chew had done a great job in her constituency and he would recommend that she seek re-election in the same constituency.

= == = =Watch the Video Clip (2 min 15 s) ONG K T : Not the Right Time (40 sec in Mandarin); Abdulah: Right Time, I decide; Mohd Toyo: Anytime is good time

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