Manek Urai By-election

[pywong]

Manek Urai, Kelatan polling on July 14

Thurs 28 May 09,

By Adib Zalkapli

PUTRAJAYA, May 28 — Polling for the Manek Urai by-election is set for July 14 while nomination day falls on July 6, Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof announced today.

The election was called following the death of five-term Kelantan state lawmaker Ismail Yaacob last Friday. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/27875-manek-urai-vote-on-july-14)

[pywong]

Party stickers for polling day cars

Posted by admin
Monday, 08 June 2009 10:42

(NST) KOTA BARU: The Election Commission (EC) will limit the number of party vehicles ferrying voters to polling centres on the day of the Manik Urai by-election.

To enforce the ruling, the EC will for the first time, be issuing coloured stickers to identify the party vehicles -- BN will have blue stickers, Pas green and independents orange.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said the introduction of the stickers was requested by the police to control traffic flow on polling day as the roads in Manik Urai were narrow.

"It will also put a stop to the campaigning on polling day with vehicles ferrying voters flying party flags and carrying party logos. We had wanted to introduce it in the recent Penanti by-election but it was not carried out.

"The stickers will be pasted on the right side of the vehicles and only party vehicles with the stickers will be allowed to enter the area. Private vehicles carrying voters will be allowed to go to the centres, but they will be strictly off-limits to joyriders," he told a press conference here. Also present was Kelantan police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi.

Nomination for the by-election is set for July 6 and polling on July 14.

The by-election was being held following the death of its Pas assemblyman Ismail Yaacob on May 22.

Aziz hoped the by-election would be trouble-free just like the Penanti by-election. He said about 400 EC officials would be stationed at Manik Urai for the by-election. Link here… (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22951/84/)

[pywong]

Local man Fauzi is PAS candidate for Manek Urai

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Mohd Fauzi Abdullah, a local fish wholesaler, was named PAS candidate for the Manek Urai by-election scheduled for next month.

The 50-year-old was described by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who made the announcement tonight, as the most suitable candidate to replace the popular five-term assemblyman Ismail Yaacob.

The announcement was made at a public rally in the state constituency before thousands of supporters.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was also present at the rally, in what is an attempt to prove that PAS remains united despite recent public disagreements between senior leaders over the issue of political cooperation with Umno. More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/30676-local-man-fauzi-is-pas-candidate-for-manek-urai)

[pywong]

BN name Manik Urai candidate

KUALA KRAI, June 28 — Kesedar project monitoring division manager Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat is the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Manik Urai state by-election on July 14.
The selection of Tuan Aziz, 39, who is Kuala Krai Umno Youth head, was announced by Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at a function in Kampung Sok Luar, Manik Urai, here.
More… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/30778-bn-name-manik-urai-candidate)

[pywong]

Youths make up majority of voters in Manek Urai

KOTA BARU, July 4 — Election Commission secretary Datuk Ngah Senik at a briefing on the Manek Urai by-election here today, said of the 12,293 registered voters in the constituency, 5,598 were youths between the ages of 21 and 39 or 45.54 per cent of the total voters.

Next were those between the ages of 40 and 59 numbering 4,511 voters or 36.7 per cent of the electorate while there were 1,937 voters in the age group of 60 to 79 (15.75 per cent).

Voters above the age of 80 numbered 247 or 2.01 per cent.

In terms of gender, men numbered 6,316 voters (51.38 per cent) while women 5,977 (48.62 per cent).

Malays made up 99.2 per cent of the voters in the constituency, Chinese numbered only 56 voters, Indians 28 and others 12.

Postal voters only numbered 25.

Ngah added that nomination for the by-election on Monday and vote tallying on polling day on July 14 would be held at Sekolah Menengah Sultan Yahya Petra 1 in Kuala Krai.

Nine polling centres with 27 voting streams will be made available on polling day and there will be 497 election staffers to ensure smooth running of the by-election.

The by-election is necessitated by the death of its assemblyman, Ismail Yaakob of PAS, on May 22 due to a heart attack.

On another matter, Ngah said 3.7 million Malaysians eligible to vote had failed to register as voters.

He said the majority of them were youths and reminded them to exercise their democratic right to vote. (Admin: On a Tuesday in Manek Urai! Why not on a weekend, which is easier for working youths?)

According to him, as of March 31, the electoral roll had 11 million voters. Malaysia has population of 27 million. – Bernama Link here… (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/31386-youths-make-up-majority-of-voters-in-manek-urai)

[pywong]

Come back and vote, Nik Aziz tells Manek Urai voters

Posted by admin
Monday, 06 July 2009 01:26

(Bernama) - PAS estimates that there are between 800 to 1,000 Kelantanese outside the state who are eligible to vote in the Manek Urai state by-election on July 14.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said he hoped these individuals would return to their hometown and carry out their duty in the by-election.

He said voting was not just a political, but also a religious duty.

“Don’t think that politics is not a religious duty because how can Islam move without politics. Both go hand in hand,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport here after meeting with the Malaysian Association of Kelantanese Abroad in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysiatoday.... (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/23959/84/)

[pywong]

In line with its philosophy of being a loving and caring government, here are some freebees for the kids of Manek Urai. Never mind that by sheer coincidence, UMNO is contesting a by-election there.


Free uniforms and bags for students in constituency

Posted by admin
Monday, 06 July 2009 10:11

(Bernama) KUALA KRAI: The Education Ministry is providing free school uniforms and bags to 6,142 primary, secondary and religious school students in Manek Urai.

Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said he was informed of the aid allocation for the students by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin several days ago.

“This gesture by the ministry is to lighten the burden of the people here,” he told a news conference at the Manek Urai Barisan Nasional operations centre yesterday.

While 300 students received the free school uniforms and bags yesterday, Mustapa said the rest would be handed out in stages.

He had earlier presented the uniforms and bags to the pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Manek Urai Baru on behalf of Muhyiddin.

There are 10 primary and 12 secondary schools as well as an Arabic-medium school in the town.

Meanwhile, Mustapa has urged employers in the public and private sectors to allow their employees to return home to vote on July 14. (Admin: Of course, it never occurred to the SPR to have the nomination and polling on a weekend. Hypocrisy at work.)

“Do not deny them their rights as voters; it is an offence,” he said in reference to the statement by Kelantan PAS elections director Abdul Fatah Harun yesterday about receiving reports of some employers not allowing their workers to return to Manek Urai to cast their vote. Malaysiatoday.... (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/23972/84/)

[pywong]

To UMNO, winning is everything. How and what doesn't matter.

Manek Urai: Umno using govt, army officers to campaign

Posted by admin
Friday, 10 July 2009 15:18

By Wong Choon Mei, Suara Keadilan

Pakatan Rakyat leaders are alarmed at the Umno-BN’s unprecedentedly large-scale use of the federal machinery, to the extent of ordering government and army officers to campaign for it at the Manek Urai by-election, where winning is crucial if Prime Minister Najib Razak is to maintain the respect of the Malay community.

“BN is using unethical tactics. The PAS-Pakatan Rakyat candidate is being overwhelmed by the BN machinery both in terms of manpower and financial resources,” said Saifuddin Nasution, PKR election director.

His views were echoed by PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar, who cited reports received from members on the ground.

.....“BN leaders are even making free use of the armed forces’ helicopters to hit the campaign trail,” Mahfuz said.

Government agencies involved in campaigning for the BN include Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan (JPP) Kelantan, Lembaga Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan (Kesedar), Felcra, Jabatan Pelajaran, Jabatan Kesihatan, Kemas, Bahagian Serantas, Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah and the police.

.....Said Saifuddin: “The orders that have been given by the BN leaders are a clear-cut and serious abuse of power. At every by-election, the BN has been stepping their use of the federal machinery to campaign.

“This is why it vital for the voters at Manek Urai to use their vote and reject the deviationist and corrupt ways of the BN and continue the peoples’ fight for reforms.” Malaysiatoday.... (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/24165/84/)

[pywong]

UMNO is really getting desperate, resorting to such blatant offers. They are really insulting the intelligence of the voters.

Your choice - vote PAS or new bridge
Hafiz Yatim Jul 12, 09

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today gave voters in Manek Urai a rather stark choice - choose either PAS or a new bridge for the state constituency.

Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, told the remote constituency's 12,293 voters that should they back Barisan Nasional on Tuesday, they would get a 300-metre bridge connecting Manek Urai Baru and Manek Urai Lama in Kuala Krai. Malaysiakini.... (http://malaysiakini.com/news/108327)

[pywong]

Your choice - vote PAS or new bridge
Hafiz Yatim Jul 12, 09

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today gave voters in Manek Urai a rather stark choice - choose either PAS or a new bridge for the state constituency.

Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, told the remote constituency's 12,293 voters that should they back Barisan Nasional on Tuesday, they would get a 300-metre bridge connecting Manek Urai Baru and Manek Urai Lama in Kuala Krai.

Anwar however is of the opinion that the bridge should extend to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's office, and called on the watchdog to spring into action on this matter.

"Who does Muhyiddin think he is? Is he King Solomon? Making claims and promises that he will build the bridge next day," he said.

"This is Umno and BN, they are stupid to make such promises. He (Muhyiddin) is not qualified to say that a bridge can be built immediately. Malaysiakini.... (http://malaysiakini.com/news/108389)

[pywong]

Promise of bridge is “election graft”
13 Jul 09 : 1.11PM

By Zedeck Siew, zedecksiew@thenutgraph.com

KUALA KRAI, 13 July 2009: An independent election watchdog has slammed Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's promise of a bridge in Manik Urai, should BN win in the by-election there, describing it as election graft.

"The promise to give a bridge to Manik Urai voters if they vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) breaches the principles of a fair election," said National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) executive director Amin Iskandar, in a press statement today.

"This is because the federal government has misused its powers by giving development promises in the by-election campaign period, while their opponents are unable to do the same," Amin explained.

............Muhyiddin "The Public Works Department has made an estimate of RM7 million to construct the new bridge. We (BN) promise that the new bridge will be built one day after we win (the by-election)," Muhyiddin said.

"Muhyiddin's promise may be seen as 'intimidation politics', as the people of Manik Urai will not receive the bridge if they vote against the BN," Amin said.

............To avoid such breaches from happening in future, Amin suggested that the Election Commission, working with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, petition Parliament to draw up an Election Anti-Corruption Act. The Nut Graph.... (http://thenutgraph.com/article-4431.html#comments)

[pywong]

The tricky thing is the shifting of ballot boxes from the polling centre. There's many a slip betwixt the cup and the lips. That was what happened at the Batang Ai By-election. At the last minute, the SPR changed the transport from boats to helicopter and refused to allow PKR's reps to accompany the boxes.

Manek Urai: PAS wins by 65 votes
Jul 14, 09 3:48pm


9.35pm: Kelantan PAS leader Husam blamed the narrow victory on vote buying. He said PAS had lodged a report over the matter and hoped that action would be taken.

7.21pm: Still no announcement from the Election Commission although most of the ballot boxes are already at the main tally centre.

NONE7.20pm: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin tweets: Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat of BN wins by 38-vote margin.

7.15pm: At the BN operation centre, about 50 party workers appear upbeat. Some claimed that Umno has won by 200 votes while others said the margin of victory was about 30.

6.55pm: First few ballot boxes arrive at the main tally centre in Kuala Krai.

6.51pm: Hundreds of PAS supporters gather outside the party’s campaign headquarters in Manek Urai. Party volunteers distribute posters of their candidate, Mohd Fauzi Abdullah, to motorists - many them honking their cars and motorbikes in jubilation even before the results are announced.

Election Commission cars are seen going pass the campaign HQ ferrying ballox boxes to the main tally centre in Kuala Krai (about 15km away). Malaysiakini.... (http://malaysiakini.com/)

[pywong]

Manek Urai: PAS barely scrape past full BN might

Analysis by Leslie Lau

MANEK URAI, July 14 — Despite throwing everything including the kitchen sink at PAS, Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN) still came up short in today’s Manek Urai by-election.

From the get-go there were many things in BN’s favour.

PAS was wracked by infighting between the so-called Erdogans who were backed by Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and the ulama faction of party president Hadi Awang.

The signs became even more favourable last week when the independent Merdeka Centre poll showed that Datuk Seri Najib Razak now had a 65 per cent approval rating as prime minister.

A recent change in Umno leadership in Kelantan, from Annuar Musa to Mustapa Mohamad – also suggested a rejuvenated state machinery.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties appeared to be also distracted by their own very public disagreements – from pig abattoirs in Kedah to the PAS flirtation with Umno.

The PR icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also facing his sodomy charge in court.

But perhaps the clear lesson to be learned in this by-election is reserved for PR and PAS.

And that is in today’s fluid political landscape, no party can waltz into a by-election expecting an easy win. TheMalaysiaInsider.... (http://malaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/32321-manek-urai-pas-barely-scrape-past-full-bn-might)

[pywong]

Manek Urai - A lesson for all parties

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 11:37

By Dr. Rafick

1. It is official; PAS won MU with a majority of 65 votes. Not much but that is enough to clinch the title of a winner. What is important here is that the voters are split right down in the middle. In a Malay dominated territory, the Malays are split into almost two equal halves.

2. The result of this by election is important. If it is extrapolated generally across the nation, it would mean that the entire Malays population is divided. The ethnic Chinese and the Indians basically will decide the final swing of the votes. If a general election is called tomorrow, it would means that BN will lose badly.

3. Looking at the campaigning that took place in MU, it appears that BN or UMNO did not do the campaigns but the campaign was actually conducted by the Federal Government. The media machinery of the government played a significant role. Literally, the entire Cabinet and the ministries went down to campaign. The government even promised the people of MU a new bridge. That shows the level of desperation in the BN camp. Racial sentiment and fear tactics was also strongly played by BN. They even had to resort seeking Lee Kuan Yew help in campaigning. Maybe this is the precursor to stronger relationship between Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysiatoday.... (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/24340/84/)

And you have to hand it to UMNO's chutzpah. They can even spin a loss into a win. It's a 50:50 split down the middle. UMNO is a dead duck in the West Coast states.

Mustapa claims narrow defeat is moral victory for BN

KUALA KRAI, July 14 – The result of the by-election for the Manek Urai state assembly seat is a moral victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) and the rejuvenation of BN in Kelantan. BN Kelantan’s election director Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the narrow margin victory by PAS, compared with the March 8, 2008 general election, was a clear indication that the people have accepted Umno.

“It is a moral victory for BN and we lost by just 65 votes with the 1,352 majority earlier. We had fielded a capable candidate who had worked very hard to ensure BN’s victory,” he told reporters here today. TheMalaysiaInsider.... (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/32334-mustapa-claims-narrow-defeat-is-moral-victory-for-bn)

[pywong]

Isn't it great what money can buy? This is exactly the same formula as in Batang Ai. Keep the rural folks poor, then it cost very little to buy their votes. In Batang Ai, it was $1000. It made a huge impact.

Here it's $1500. If some had not been skimmed off by the local warlords, more could have reached the voters and that could have swung the results. All UMNO needed was 33 votes! It was that close! By comparison, we can say that the Kelantanese have a higher level of resistance. Thank goodness for that.

A Blogger’s analysis of the Manik Urai by-election

Posted by admin
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 16:43

The amount of money that changed hands was simply unbelievably high that almost every household can have a one-month holiday to savour their fortune.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

You may have noticed that I have been very silent on the issue of the Manik Urai by-election. I did not even offer a prediction of the results like I did in the last few by-elections -- which were quite spot on if I can be allowed to boast a bit here. Basically, what more can I say that I have not already said? It would be just a case of more of the same thing.

Now that the by-election is over, many theories and analysis have come to the surface. The old adage of everyone is an expert on hindsight rings true here. But which of the many ‘findings’ would be considered prudent? Was the Manik Urai by-election a setback for the opposition? Was it a continuation of the losing streak for the ruling coalition? Who actually won and who lost? The jury appears out on this issue and both sides claim victory while declaring the other side the loser.

Sure, it was an almost 50:50 situation. A mere few-vote difference and it would have been a draw. Some would say no one actually won. Some say Umno, yet again, lost. Some say, considering the margin PAS won the last time around, this can be construed as a defeat for PAS. Malaysiatoday.... (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/24355/84/)

[pywong]

Manek Urai: Torn between denial and admitting setback

MANEK URAI, July 16 — A day after PAS barely squeaked to victory in a by-election in its stronghold of Kelantan, the opposition is torn between bravado and admitting that a warning signal has been sounded.


.........Umno capitalised strongly on this in its campaign. It told voters that Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat was a stumbling block to Malay unity. Nik Aziz, who is also the party's spiritual leader, leads the anti-Umno faction.

Manek Urai is about 100km from the state capital of Kota Baru, and accessible by winding narrow roads.

Umno won in five of the nine polling districts, and in three of these, it had made pledges for development projects.

Deputy Premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had promised that the federal government would build a RM7 million bridge to link the villages in Manek Urai Lama and Manek Urai Baru if Umno won.

The villages, separated by a river, now have only a one-lane bridge which must be shared in turns by vehicles in different directions.

Umno won the youth vote narrowly, by about 3 per cent.

PAS held on to the four polling districts that are more remote, including areas which had been settled under land schemes initiated by the PAS government in Kelantan. TheMalaysiaInsider.... (http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/32436-manek-urai-torn-between-denial-and-admitting-setback)

[pywong]

Malaysia's opposition: Anwar holds the PAS

Jul 16th 2009 | MANEK URAI, KELANTAN

From The Economist print edition

How stable is Malaysia’s would-be coalition government?

Illustration by Claudio Munoz

LIFE in the rubber-tapping villages of Manek Urai, in north-eastern
Malaysia, rarely raises the pulse. How much more exciting, then, was
the July 14th state by-election, narrowly won by a pious fishmonger.
During the campaign, a bevy of national politicians descended on the
district to woo its 12,293 voters, whose former assemblyman from the
opposition Islamic Party (PAS) had died in May. As usual, Malaysia’s
ruling coalition did not come empty-handed: villagers in Manek Urai
were promised a new bridge if they chose wisely. Instead, they stuck
with PAS, by just 65 votes.

The bridge will have to wait, but PAS’s celebrations had more to do
with relief than joy. Politically, the by-election victory counts for
little as PAS already has a comfortable majority in conservative
Kelantan, one of four states ruled by the opposition. But the
symbolism is potent. The seat is rural and dominated by ethnic Malays,
who form the bedrock of support not only for PAS but for the United
Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant party of the ruling
coalition. The vote was the first since a new prime minister, Najib
Razak, took office in April. A victory would have snapped UMNO’s
losing streak. In March 2008 the government surrendered its cherished
two-thirds majority in parliament. It has lost five of six subsequent
by-elections to opponents led by a former deputy prime minister, Anwar
Ibrahim, who went on trial this week on a sodomy charge that he calls
politically motivated.

Mr Anwar is the glue holding together an unlikely alliance of the
Islamist PAS, the secular Democratic Action Party (DAP) and a
multiracial party of his own called the People’s Justice party. The
coalition is riven by ideological splits and statehouse squabbles and
Mr Anwar’s legal troubles have unsettled it further. The DAP recently
threatened to quit a PAS-led state government after it demolished an
unlicensed pig abattoir. Party officials feud openly.

Naturally, the government likes to play up such incidents. But the
divisions, while manageable, are real, admits Liew Chin Tong, a member
of parliament for the DAP. The main question is how far to protect the
rights and interests of the Malay majority. This sometimes pits the
Chinese-oriented Dap on the one hand against both PAS and UMNO on the
other, leading some PAS figures to talk up the idea of a detente
between the two parties—though they have been slapped down by PAS’s
spiritual leader (and chief minister of Kelantan) Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
PAS itself is split between old-guard clerical conservatives, who
favour unity talks and more Islamic laws, and a moderate faction known
as “Erdogan”, after Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

That Malaysia’s politics pivots on the whims of a divided Islamist
party which favours sharia law sounds alarming. Various sharia laws
are on the books in Kelantan (including stoning for adulterers and
rapists), though the federal government has blocked their enforcement.
PAS officials are fuzzy on what would happen if, as seems probable,
the opposition eventually comes to power at the national level. But
the likelihood is that secular laws would prevail, given the
coalition’s make-up. In addition, PAS has in fact shed much of its
fundamentalist baggage over time. It has rebranded its emphasis on
Islamic jurisprudence as a commitment to social justice and clean
governance—in contrast to UMNO’s money-grubbing image. Over the past
decade, young Malay professionals from outside its northeastern base
have swollen its ranks. Some are now standing for office and,
remarkably, winning the support of Chinese and Indian voters. Even
UMNO officials concede that PAS has moved into the mainstream.

It remains possible that PAS could split, with part buttressing UMNO
in government and part staying in opposition. Conservatives in the
rural heartland may be tempted to jump ship if UMNO dangles the right
goodies, arguing that safeguarding Malay rights trumps everything
else. But that would bring them into conflict with Mr Anwar, who wants
to abolish the much-abused racial-quota system and tackle poverty
among all races. And PAS members who do link arms with UMNO run the
risk of alienating voters who want change at the top and are willing
to forgo electoral bribes—as the villagers of Manek Urai showed.

.... (http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14052224)