WITH VIDEO It looks like Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has got himself another 'star' to help his People's Justice Party or PKR stamp its mark on Malaysia's hyperactive political scene.
44-year-old Wong Chen, slightly geeky, slightly nerdy-looking, is the head of PKR's investment and trade bureau. In reality, he is sharp as a razor and as wholesome as they come. Blessed with double-barreled academic qualifications, a supportive wife and two young children, his plate looks already full. But whether the Malay literature student and corporate lawyer by training likes it or not, his bosses are going to dish out more responsibility for him to shoulder. They seem to think he can handle it.
Wong Chen was given the coveted Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat to contest. With the urban electorate clearly behind the Opposition, Kelana Jaya is indeed a plum seat to get. Suddenly, he is the envy of his colleagues. Yet he has managed to escape the worst of the backbiting and malicious gossiping that often holds back newbies like him. This, his friends say, is a testament to his " extremely" humble and friendly ways.
We can win MASSIVE!
In an exclusive interview with Malaysia Chronicle, Wong Chen talks about himself and his aspirations. The usually quick-talking first-time candidate shows an unguarded side, unconsciously revealing how important the family unit is to him.
It is also clear he is passionate about his quest to bring "change" to Malaysia. While he tries not to give in to over-exuberance over the Pakatan Rakyat's chances in the May 5 general election, it is evident that he is completely sure his side will win and win hands-down too!
"In the urban areas, we are very confident. We are very confident because we believe. After two-and- half days of campaigning, I can sense that the urban areas are very strongly with us. The key to winning big in this general election really is fought in the rural areas and in particular rural areas in the peninsula. Sabah is something that no one really knows what will happen, so we just leave that aside. The analysis is still coming out, we don’t know how the Suluks are going to vote or are they going to just not vote as a protest and what are the Kadazans going to do? They are all tied up to this RCI thing. Now I think the battle ground is really Peninsular rural heartland and that hinges on Felda, it hinges on the price of commodities and rubber and palm oil. It also hinges of the policies and strategies that each party adopts," Wong Chen said.
"We are adopting a simple strategy of engaging people and talk about policies, talk about rising cost of living and stuff like that. And from the BN side, it seems they are just going in negative campaigning strategy, trying to scare the rural folks, you know 'Malays are going to lose power', bring up the Allah issues, bring up the sex videos, I think that this kind of negative campaigning is going to create a big backlash for BN, and if that happens, we will win Putrajaya big and not just by a comfortable win but massive majority."
"So my analysis is you have to go to the rural areas and if you see the people are silent because the rural folk are more deferring and more humble, they don’t really like to voice political opinions but if you interview people and find out they are not talking openly. They are keeping silent, more likely than not they are actually Pakatan Rakyat supporters. So in that aspect I have been down many times to the rural areas and the people go - shhh 'rahsia' (secret). If they give you that signal you know we are going to win. That's why I'm confident and that's why the party is ready to roll."
New breed of creative and smart politicians
As befitting his 'yuppie' image, even his campaigning style seems to be unique and creatively thought-out.
His supporters are going around the constituency handing out copies of his trademark "round" John Lennon-type spectacles in a bid to put a human face to his campaigning and make more interesting the plethora of issues he plans to make a stand on. Many of these concern corruption and might seem daunting or even boring to the layman due to the sheer amount of technical and financial details he has fitted into his presentation.
Wong Chen also praised Nik Nazmi, the Seri Setia assemblyman, and Hannah Yeoh, the Subang Jaya assemblywoman for helping his Kelana Jaya campaign. Both Nik and Hannah are in the same age group as Wong Chen and his wife, and they all have children who were born around the same time.
And though Wong Chen doesn't name any names, he could not help thanking one his benefactors - an uncle of Nik Nazmi's - whom he credits for having mentored and given him the opportunities to rise in his career.
We append below the transcript of the interview with Wong Chen.
-MC
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
PR can win GE13 with MASSIVE MAJORITY!
About sabahdaily
A double-barreled academic qualification can't promise he will be a good leader. "talk about rising cost of living and stuff like that", in every country in the world there is no escaping from rising cost of living, it happen to develop country also
ReplyDeleteThat what BN trying to say, they will bring more brilliant idea to cope or prevent issue like rising of living cost. 1Malaysia Clinic is one of the solution to people with low income, to have access to better facilities. Go for BN!
ReplyDeleteThe Wanita PKR national chief Zuraida Kamaruddin admitted to The Malaysian Insider that there is still a lingering dissatisfaction among Sabah PKR leaders over the possibility of losing their bid to contest the coming polls. Still have the guts to say PKR can win with massive majority? PKR Sabah surely disturbed with this statement.
ReplyDeleteIt is much easier for BN to keep its power than for Pakatan to wrest it. In GE-12, BN only lost one seat both in Sabah and Sarawak. BN manage to garner 25 seats in Sabah, and 31 seats in Sarawak.
ReplyDeleteHow can a two-party system work when the opposition pact cannot even formalise its coalition? WIKIPEDIA defines a two-party political system as one where "two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected officers are members of one of the two major parties."
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has been to a ceramah by the opposition pact would have heard speakers use this term as justification for voter support -- that Malaysia needs a two-party system. Does it really?
ReplyDeleteMost Malaysians will associate a two-party system with the American model where either the Democratic or Republican party dominates the election. But why do I highlight this now, three days after the nomination day ended and campaigning is underway for the 13th General Election (GE13)? I think the proposal for a two-party system was a half-hearted idea raised by the opposition and its NGO affiliates to cloud the judgment of Malaysian voters.
ReplyDeleteWe all know that the opposition pact is at its strongest level after the 12th general election. Winning four states and reducing Barisan Nasional's two-thirds majority in parliament gave the pact the strength and funds needed to build up election machinery for GE13.
ReplyDeleteIt also led to a revival of the opposition pact. Earlier, they called themselves the Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front), which failed due to endless argument between the parties. The slightly evolved opposition pact was born in 2008, which Wikipedia has termed "an informal Malaysian political coalition".
ReplyDeleteWhy informal? Because the opposition pact still has not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS), unlike BN (which consist of 13 component parties nationwide, including Umno, MCA and MIC).
ReplyDeleteDespite all the arguments and excuses their leaders said before, they had intentionally -- through disagreement or strategy -- failed to cement their unification.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on nomination day, after the dust settled and shouting matches between supporters ended, Malaysians must have been shocked to see Pas and PKR contesting against each other in seven constituencies across the country. Stunned voters in these constituencies must be asking: "Is the opposition pact disintegrating?"
ReplyDeleteTheir supporters must now choose between Pas and PKR candidates who will be contesting against BN in the Labuan parliamentary seat and the state seats of Panti, Sungai Acheh (Penang), Kota Damansara (Selangor), Bukit Besi, Kota Putera and Seberang Takir (Terengganu).
ReplyDeleteWhat happened? How come we have an opposition pact which is at its strongest level ever, and yet failed to unite themselves? Is this why the opposition half-heartedly tried to register "Pakatan Rakyat" with the RoS and never tried again after technicalities put its application in limbo?
ReplyDeleteAre Malaysians ready for an unregistered opposition pact that claims it wants to establish a two-party system if it wins Putrajaya, yet it cannot even decide if it wants to become a coalitition in the first place? Is this another empty promise?
ReplyDeleteThe Malaysian government -- like many Commonwealth countries -- is based on the Westminster system, which follows the multi-party system. Under this system it is possible to have a hung government (no party has the outright majority).
ReplyDeleteIn Negri Sembilan last Saturday, the number of independent candidates contesting in GE13 rose to 14 (in 11 seats) compared with only two independents in GE12. This is testimony of the freedom of expression in this country.
ReplyDeleteMost of them are also former DAP members in Negri Sembilan, including former member of parliament of Seremban John Fernandez, who left the party to recontest in Seremban, and thus creating a five-cornered fight between BN, DAP, Berjasa and two independents.
ReplyDeleteAfter polling day on May 5, I would not be surprised if the much touted two-party system by the opposition and its NGO affiliates is forgotten.
ReplyDeleteJANGAN PERASAN!!
ReplyDeletebagaimana sebuah perikatan yang tidak nampak ikatan perpaduan dikalangan parti pembangkang lain boleh menang PRU13?? sedangkan PKR sendiri akan bertembung PAS di 7 kerusi.. adakah ini yang dimaksudkan bahawa pembangkang akan menang besar??
di Sabah pula, hampir semua kerusi menyaksikan pertembungkan lebih dari 3 penjuru. berdasarkan rekod sebelum ini, setiap kali berlaku pertembungkan 3 atau lebih penjuru, Barisan Nasional pasti akan mendapat kelebihan..
eloklah pembangkang cermin diri sendiri sebelum bersorak..
If the opposition leaders are sincere towards creating a two party system, they should have registered their party under one umbrella and contesting with one "Lambang". Unfortunately they are not. They contest against each other. This shows that the opposition leaders have no political vision. Each of them has thier own ambition.
ReplyDeleteThe Barisan Nasional chairman said the Opposition had failed to find a common ground on their candidates to be fielded, which resulted in some of their candidates being caught in “friendly fire”.
ReplyDelete“The Opposition’s pact has collapsed. And if this is how they run their coalition, then one can imagine what will happen if they are to run the country. It will surely go to ruin.
“I call on the people to reject Pakatan Rakyat before they destroy the country,” he said at the launch of the Sentuhan Kasih project and housing quarters for Felda staff at Felda Chini Timur 2 here.
ReplyDeleteNajib said the Opposition parties were already at odds with each other on the issue of candidates even on the eve of nomination day and failed to find an amicable solution.
“They call themselves Pakatan (pact), but they are obviously not united when it comes to becoming candidates.
ReplyDeleteTheir disunity is already apparent now and we can imagine how it will be like if they come to power,” he added.
At the launch of the agropolitan project in Tanjung Batu in Nenasi, Najib reminded the people not to be taken in by slogans such as Ubah (change) because the Opposition has no track record to prove that they could do better than Barisan.
ReplyDelete“I don’t have to tell the people what the Government has done for them because they can see and feel it.
“The Opposition, on the other hand, simply launches attacks and accusations,” he said.
ReplyDeleteEarlier when launching Felda’s industry and recreational complex, Najib said Felda was now an internationally-renowned organisation thanks to the efficiency and determination of the Barisan government.
He said the notion that all governments were the same was incorrect, citing an example where attempts to emulate Felda by certain African governments had failed.
ReplyDelete“Even the Opposition cannot do what Barisan had done with Felda.
ReplyDelete“The PAS-led Kelantan government’s Ladang Rakyat programme was a disappointment.
ReplyDelete“We had people asking if Felda can take over the project.
ReplyDelete“We can do it, provided Kelantan is under Barisan administration,” he said.
ReplyDeleteMulti-cornered contests throughout Sabah in Election 2013 will benefit the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in areas with a weak opposition, analysts said today. They, however, stressed that multi-cornered fights for the May 5 general elections would not dent the opposition's chances of victory in federal seats like Keningau or Beaufort, where voters choose based on personalities, rather than political parties.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"Multi-cornered contests will reduce the opposition's chances of winning a max number of seats," Sabah-based political analyst Dr Arnold Puyok said."In areas where the opposition is not strong, multi-cornered contests may benefit BN greatly, but in areas where personality factor counts more than party factor, multi-cornered contests don't affect the opposition's chances that much," he added.
ReplyDeletePuyok predicted that the opposition would win between five and six federal seats in the Borneo state - Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Beaufort, Pensiangan and Ranau - compared to the one seat in Election 2008, where the DAP won Kota Kinabalu.The political analyst said that the pro-opposition sentiment among the Chinese was running high in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, while PKR candidates Richard Sakian Gunting and Jonathan Yasin were popular in Pensiangan and Ranau respectively.
Multi-cornered fights have sprung up in Sabah between BN, opposition parties from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), local opposition parties SAPP and STAR, and numerous independent candidates on Nomination Day.The Keningau constituency will see the second battle between heavyweights incumbent PBS' Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (picture) and Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is his brother and the Sabah STAR chairman. PKR's Stephen Sandor has also thrown his hat into the ring, making it a three-way contest.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletePuyok pointed out that Jeffrey could win the battle for the interior seat of Keningau this time, noting that he was in a wheelchair during his first contest against Pairin in Election 2008, where he lost by 4,264 votes."Jeff's STAR, it seems, has a more organised campaign machinery this time... Jeff looks more energetic now and has managed to thrill his supporters with STAR's unique campaign style," said Puyok.
ReplyDeleteSTAR and SAPP are campaigning on restoring Sabah's autonomy, while PR is urging voters to choose between it and BN in the opposition pact's quest to win federal power in the May 5 polls.Another three-cornered fight will take place in the Beaufort federal constituency between incumbent Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, who defected from Umno to form the PKR-friendly PPS, STAR's Guan Dee Koh Hoi and Umno's Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun.
ReplyDeletePolitical scientist Professor Jayum Jawan, who is from Sarawak, noted that Lajim enjoyed strong support."He is the so-called leader of the Bisaya people. That's a very tough seat.
BN will have to work double hard to win," Jayum told The Malaysian Insider.Lajim won Beaufort in Election 2008 with an overwhelming 10,914-vote majority.
ReplyDeleteJayum similarly said that multi-cornered fights between opposition parties would give BN an edge, but said that independents would not create much impact, due to a lack of grassroots support.The political scientist from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) expected the opposition to win six to seven federal seats in Sabah - including urban areas like Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau - down from half of the 25 parliamentary seats in his original forecast a few months ago.
ReplyDelete"But I think because of multi-cornered fights, that might reduce the number of federal seats," said Jayum.Kota Kinabalu will see a three-cornered contest between Sabah DAP chief Jimmy Wong, PBS' Chin Tek Ming and STAR's Liew Hock Leong.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSandakan, however, will see a straight fight between incumbent Datuk V.K. Liew from the LDP and DAP's Wong Tien Fatt.A four-cornered contest will take place in Tawau, where incumbent Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui from SAPP will defend her seat against Datuk Mary Yap from PBS, PKR's Datuk Kong Hong Ming and independent Ahmad Awang.
ReplyDeletePolitical scientist Dr Faisal S. Hazis similarly said that incumbent Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, who defected from UPKO and formed the PKR-friendly APS, was popular in the Tuaran federal seat, compared to UPKO's Datuk Wilfred Tangau, STAR's Jasmin Dulin and independent Erveana Ansari Ali in the four-cornered fight. "Generally you can see based on the personalities contesting, there are two main parties contesting," said Faisal, who is from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.
pakatan pembangkang boleh melupakan hasrat mereka menawan Putrajaya berikutan persengketaan PKR dan PAS yang bertembung di enam kerusi negeri dan satu kerusi parlimen Labuan.
ReplyDeletetindakan pembangkang itu sesuatu yang bodoh dan mereka lupa sebenarnya Barisan Nasional (BN) sememangnya kuat dan tidak mudah dikalahkan sekalipun jika mereka bersatu.
ReplyDeleteKalau tak dapat selesaikan juga ataupun tak ada salah seorang yang menarik diri atau sebagainya boleh ucapkan selamat tinggal pada kerusi-kerusi ini.
ReplyDeleteDan kerusi ini akan dimenangi oleh BN lah, itulah kebodohan PAS dan PKR. Ingat nak lawan BN senang ke? Lawan dengan gergasi dan mereka pula bergaduh sesama sendiri,
ReplyDeletepada hari penamaan calon apabila PKR dan PAS masing-masing akan bertembung sesama sendiri di sekurang-kurangnya tujuh kerusi.
ReplyDeleteKerusi-kerusi tersebut adalah Labuan, Sungai Acheh, Kota Putera, Bukit Besi, Seberang Takir, Kota Damansara dan Panti.
"Ini boleh memecahkan undi dan sudah pastilah tujuh kerusi ini menunjukkan akan kalah
ReplyDeleteThe Transformation Team has energised the nomination landscape. In a masterstroke, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has cemented his reformist credentials and shown that Barisan Nasional is ready to embrace change. He has also forced Pakatan Rakyat on the back foot, with the Opposition coalition under pressure to replicate his move.
ReplyDeleteNajib announced that 33 per cent of the Barisan Nasional candidates for parliamentary seats would be new faces, while 49 per cent of its candidates for the state assembly seats will be new.
ReplyDeleteThis overhaul in candidates is unprecedented in Malaysian politics, and marks a brave move forward by the BN chairman.
ReplyDeleteWith winnable candidates and fresh faces, the Transformation Team provides a good balance of experience and energy to deliver on BN's manifesto pledges
ReplyDeleteThis has also thrown Pakatan off balance. Mired as it is in seat disputes between PKR, DAP and PAS, the shaky coalition will be hard-pressed to keep up with BN.
ReplyDeleteThe Opposition is, after all, hobbled by a top-heavy array of aging leaders who are in no mood to ride off into the sunset. 82-year old DAP spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and 72-year old DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang are not going to meekly retire to allow younger candidates to contest. Pakatan may well be forced to stick to status quo once again.
ReplyDeleteThis could not be more different from BN, where several senior incumbents have decided to step aside to give Najib a free hand in choosing winnable candidates.
ReplyDeleteNajib had, after all, made it clear that political favouritism and expediency have no place in the new BN.
ReplyDeleteHe has, in one bold move, got rid of any lingering warlords in BN without an internal revolution. This will ensure stability and continuity, while also attract a young generation of voters for whom merit and fresh ideas are important drivers. With a strong mandate at GE13, Najib can then implement his long-term reform agenda for Malaysia's transformation.
ReplyDeleteThe range of candidates is impressive too. 91 per cent of BN's parliamentary candidates have at least a diploma, and one third are professionals, including academics, doctors, and lawyers.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder Pakatan is facing huge pressure to prove it actually believes in change as much as it would like voters to think.
ReplyDeleteThe family dynasties in Pakatan – DAP's Lim Kit Siang and his son Lim Guan Eng, and PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar – also stand out as relics of a bygone age, out of place in a modern Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteWill Pakatan have the courage to announce more fresh faces in its long-delayed candidates list, or will it fall back on its tired line-up of ancient candidates?
ReplyDeletePertembungan calon sekutu pembangkang iaitu PKR dan PAS di tiga Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) di Terengganu dijangka memberi kelebihan kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) sekali gus menyerlahkan lagi keretakan pakatan itu.
ReplyDeleteSeperti yang telah dijangka sebelum ini PAS menyaksikan pertembungan dengan PKR di tiga kerusi Dun iaitu Bukit Besi, Seberang Takir dan Kota Putera.
ReplyDeletePertandingan tiga penjuru di Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) Seberang Takir menyaksikan PKR yang meletakkan calonnya Ahmad Nazri Mohd Yusof manakala PAS Zakaria Dagang selain calon BN.
ReplyDeleteCalon BN Seberang Takir Datuk Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman yang juga Ketua Penerangan Umno negeri berkata dengan pertembungan PAS dan PKR itu ia dilihat mampu memberi sedikit kelebihan kepada BN.
ReplyDeleteKatanya pertembungan itu bukanlah ancaman kepada BN kerana pengundi juga boleh melihat dan menilai sendiri untuk membuat pilihan terbaik pada proses pembuangan undi nanti sekali gus menggambarkan pakatan pembangkang itu tidak sehaluan.
ReplyDeleteSehingga 21 Sept lepas, Sabah telah membelanjakan RM1.971 bilion atau 45.1 peratus daripada peruntukan bagi tahun ini di bawah pelan pusingan kedua Rancangan Malaysia Ke-sepuluh (RMK-10), kata Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman kelmarin.
ReplyDelete“Prestasi ini adalah 0.4 peratus di atas Purata Nasional iaitu 44.7 peratus
ReplyDeleteMusa berharap pendekatan merakyatkan perkhidmatan awam dapat dilaksanakan bagi meningkatkan kecekapan sektor tersebut.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berkata perkhidmatan awam perlu menilai sumbangan masing-masing kepada rakyat dengan pendekatan lebih mesra dan bersifat membantu.
ReplyDeleteMusa juga meminta penjawat awam di negeri ini supaya kreatif dan berinovatif dengan fikiran dan minda yang lebih berdaya saing dan sentiasa mencari idea baru merentasi Strategi Lautan Biru.
ReplyDeletependekatan itu bagi mempersiapkan perkhidmatan awam dalam melaksanakan fasa kedua Program Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP 2.0) yang bakal melonjakkan negara ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi.
ReplyDeleteBeliau berharap sektor awam di negeri ini menerapkan prinsip cepat, tepat dan berintegriti serta prinsip produktif, kreatif dan berinovasi bagi menjayakan GTP 2.0 tersebut.
ReplyDeleteThe State Government has successfully maintained the “Unqualified Statement” for 12 years running since 2000.
ReplyDeleteChief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said it was a proud achievement that places Sabah among the best states in Malaysia in terms of accountability and financial management efficiency.
ReplyDeleteSix State departments and agencies received the awards and these are the State Secretary Office, Public Services Department, State Treasury, Printing Department, Kudat Town Board and the Rural Development Cooperative or KPD.
ReplyDelete