Ramblings of Abufaris

PKR candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (RIGHT) with his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail casting his vote at SK Seri Penanti in Penanti, Bukit Mertajam on Tuesday. - 26 August, 2008

Clear presence: The election fever is heating up in Bukit Mertajam as PKR flags fly high in Jalan Baru ahead of the Permatang Pauh by-election yesterday. PKR candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is facing a three-corner fight with Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and Akim’s Hanafi Hamat. - 22 August, 2008

Anwar stressing a point at his ceramah in Taman Ciku, Bukit Mertajam. - 19 August, 2008

A big screen displayed during a ceramah in Taman Ciku, Bukit Mertajam where Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was present. - 19 August, 2008

PKR Candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shaking hands with people on arrival at a ceramah in Taman Ciku, Bukit Mertajam. - 19 August, 2008

Traffic jam at Kubang Semang this morning when polling stations opened. - 26 August, 2008

Thousands of political flags and banners stretch across Jalan Kubang Semang as voters make their way to the polling stations on Tuesday. - 26 August, 2008

The road heading towards the Jalan Baru polling centre in Permatang Pauh is packed with cars of people going to cast their votes Tuesday. - 26 August, 2008

A PKR billboard near Kubang Semang juction to Permatang Pauh in Penang. - 6 August, 2008

PKR flags being flown outside Permatang Pauh PKR operation center in Penanti, Penang Tuesday. - 6 August, 2008

BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (left) shaking hands with PKR candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (right) as Independent candidate Hanafi Hamat, 61, (centre) looks on after completing their nomination at Maktab Perguruan Tuanku Bainun in Mengkuang, Bukit Mertajam Saturday. - 16 August, 2008

Permatang Pauh nomination day. - 16 August, 2008

PKR adviser and de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was accompanied by his wife, PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail at Permatang Pauh on nomination day. - 16 August, 2008

The mask of Anwar: PKR supporters waiting for the by-election candidates to be announced. Visible in the crowd were some faces sporting �Anwar masks� in a show of support. - 17 August, 2008

BUKIT MERTAJAM: 26 August 2008, 1pm Update - With out-of-towners flooding into the Permatang Pauh constituency for the by-election, many drivers found themselves at a standstill late Tuesday morning as the town’s small roads were no match for the traffic volume.

Roads heading to Kubang Semang, Taman Guar Perahu, Tanah Liat and other main towns were clogged up as voters and supporters made their way to the 28 polling centres.

Many four-wheel drives and flag-clad vehicles were also seen on the roads as supporters rallied behind their chosen candidates in this anticipated by-election.

The situation was bound to worsen in the afternoon after it began raining just before 12.30pm.

As of noon, the Election Commission reports the voter turnout was at 51%.

On Tuesday morning, polling got off to a roaring start in Permatang Pauh as scores of voters and supporters hit the streets heading to 28 polling centres across the constituency.

Weather in the area seems to be holding up as the drizzle of Monday night cleared by the time polling began at 8am.

Aside from the thousands of colourful flags and banners dotting every area of the constituency, party supporters looked in a festive mood dressed in their party colours of dark blue and white with azure.

Scores of supporters congregated at the polling centres where Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were to cast their votes.

Crowds started to build up as early as 6.30am in SK Sri Penanti in Kubang Semang, where Anwar arrived with wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to cast their votes at 9.48am.

Speaking to the press, Anwar said the Election Commission should immediately notify Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia on Tuesday’s by-election results.

He said this was to enable the new Permatang Pauh MP to take his oath in Parliament early, preferably by Wednesday.

He described the voter turnout so far as encouraging and heartening.

“We can see the people’s sentiments. We hope they will be translated into votes,” he said after casting his vote.

Wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt and songkok, Anwar was accompanied his wife Dr Wan Azizah, who wore a blue floral baju kurung to the polling centre.

Amidst shouts of “Reformasi” from thousands of supporters outside, Anwar cast his vote at 9.48am, while Dr Wan Azizah dropped her vote into the ballot box at 9.53am.

About 50 photographers and television crew personnel jammed the narrow corridor outside the voting hall where Anwar entered, causing several elderly women voters to feel squashed.

Some of them cried: “pening” (dizzy), “tak larat” (no energy) and “jangan pijak kaki’ (don’t step on my foot).

A few policemen rushed in to their aid and the situation was brought under control.

Anwar said he had advised his supporters not to use abusive words or make references to anybody when “courting” voters.

“We have made our objections to the Election Commission (EC) on those who were dropped and added on the voter registration list.

“But, we have to be patient so that the election process will not be affected,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring state constituency of Seberang Jaya, security was tight at the SK Seberang Jaya 2 as Arif Shah along with wife Datin Latifah Asmawi and eldest son Izwan Shah, 27, arrived at 7.45am.

Arif Shah looked calm and relaxed, wearing a white t-shirt over dark coloured pants and a black songkok.

Flashing his famous jovial smile and obliging press in his normal easy going manner, Arif Shah paused to answer several questions before casting his vote at 8.08am. National personalities were also on hand in Seberang Jaya to lend their support, with Umno deputy president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and his son Guan Eng were also making their rounds to rally support.

Away from the action, however, was the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College in Mengkuang, Bukit Mertajam, the by-election tallying centre where votes would be flowing in after polling centres closed at 5pm.

The roads leading to the centre were still clear at 1pm, with no polling centres located nearby but this however, was certainly the calm before the storm as thousands and thousands of supporters from all sides are set to converge there tonight to hear who emerged triumphant in the make-or-break by-election.

PETALING JAYA: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) is the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said.

In a response to the proposal by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for UiTM to open up 10% of its intake to other races, PPIM said the move would be seen as challenging the special rights of the Malays.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the government and its leaders had to be tougher in defending such issues because although the country was multiracial, there was “no need to sideline Malay special rights.”

“If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be ‘Malaysia-nised’.

“It is hoped that the exclusiveness of UiTM is not undermined by anyone and it be allowed to continue as an institution that will strengthen the Malays,” he said in a statement.

Noor Nirwandy said that UiTM has not only produced many excellent scholars but has also had many graduates who were able to compete with other races in the job market.

He added that the reason given by Khalid, which was to create more competition amongst students, was unnecessary because university students already competed amongst each other.

The Indians have rejected him but he still thinks that he is wanted. If he comes back, he still is an idiot in office…

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP has cheekily welcomed the announcement by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu that he would campaign for Barisan Nasional in the Permatang Pauh by-election.

“His presence is good news for us. We hope he will stay longer as it will be even better for Pakatan Rakyat to get votes from Indians,” said Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy.

Dr Ramasamy, the party‘s central executive committee member, said many Indians were irked with Samy Vellu over several issues including his comments on the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Recently, Samy Vellu said he planned to meet the 3,300 Indian voters in Permatang Pauh to deal with their grievances.

The Indian community makes up 5.7% of the 58,449 voters in the constituency.