JOHOR TSUNAMI: Pack up MCA, Umno brace for loss

If crowd size and frenetic enthusiasm is any gauge, then MCA - pack your bags and get lost. Umno, prepare yourself for cold storage. Pakatan Rakyat has already won the hearts and minds of Malaysians.

Barring an unprecedented scale in electoral fraud, the Opposition coalition of PKR, PAS and DAP look set to win Malaysia's 13th general elections on May 5.

Across the nation, at almost every PR ceramah (or political rally), thousands of Malaysians of all races have been flocking to hear their 'heroes' and 'heroines' speak about a future without racism, a future without prejudice and injustice, a future that is bright, fair and corruption-free. And the numbers are still surging.

At the Sutera mall in Johor Baru on Wednesday, DAP managed to draw gigantic crowds for the second night in a row. No mean feat indeed.

"Johor and Johor Bahru residents have created history. Tonight's rally in Sutera mall is the largest ever in Johor. Last night, Prime Minister Najib Razak went to Penang. He said the crowd there was 10,000-strong but our people said the most was about 5,000. But never mind if he says 10,000 we give him that. But the night before he came, DAP had a ceramah near to the Han Chiang college and 70,000 came," DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told the crowd, rattling off the turnout at the various venues in Johor and elsewhere in Malaysia.

"All of you who are here know we don't provide free drinks or food but still you come (because) that is not what is important. What we want is a Malaysia free from ignorance, free from corruption and free from fear."

Anwar, the next prime minister of Malaysia

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who had arrived to a rapturous welcome, had the more-than-60,000-strong crowd on its feet when he led them through the DAP's 'Ubah' (change) chant. When he shouted 5 May, the balloting date for the election, they responded with ubah kerajaan (change government). And when he shouted 6 May, they shouted back kerajaan baru (new government).

The unity of purpose of the crowd and the rapport they felt with the Pakatan leaders cannot be denied. It is already a moral victory for the Opposition and underscores the depth of public frustration with Prime Minister Najib Razak's corruption-tainted Umno-BN coalition.

The night before, on Tuesday, more than 50,000 had packed the compound of the Sutera mall. Yet on Wednesday night, they were no less enthusiastic, cheering wildly when Kit Siang announced Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's arrival and introduced him as the next prime minister of Malaysia.

"In a few days time is your chance to change the history of Malaysia's political system once and for all. Not just change the representatives, not just change the government or party but change the system of governance to a fairer one. We are all for it. Pakatan Rakyat will unveil a system of administration that will give dignity and pride and respect to each and every Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan as Malaysians with respect," Anwar told the crowd.

"Mahathir says bury Kit Siang in Gelang Patah, he goes back to KL he says bury Anwar in Permatang Pauh. Well, let me tell Mahathir I am not Najib who has no courage to rebut. You are 87 years-old, so don't dig any graves for Kit Siang or Anwar. Think about your own grave."



Daim, the most corrupt finance minister

Anwar also accused Mahathir and his top lieutenant, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, of corruption.

"Which Malay gets the sort of monopoly of contracts as his sons. Najib does not dare to stop this kind of monopoly. Abang Anwar will have to do that for him. 7th May, we will give a clear signal, no more contracts monopoly for your son, Mahathir, return what you took from the people."

"Najib is forced to be dependent on Daim. We all know Daim is the most corrupt finance minister in the history of Malaysia. The North-South Highway, Hati Budi, Halim Saad, billions of shares, rights issues of Genting, billions of shares. How much did he robbed from the people? Let us send the same message to Daim. We will investigate and whatever you have taken you must return to the people."

PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayob too received a thunderous welcome. Visibly moved, Salahuddin had the crowd on its feet when he declared the era of racial or communal politics was over.

"In the past, it was difficult to see any Chinese crowd in a PAS event. Same goes for DAP, difficult to see any Malay crowd. But now everything has changed," said Salahuddin, who is due to contest the Nusajaya state assembly and the Pulai parliament seats.




Malaysia Chronicle