> Victory in Bukit Gantang is victory for People Power

A victory in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election for Pas will be a victory for people’s power in Perak and for democracy in the country.

This is the sentiment expressed by Pakatan Rakyat’s speakers at a DAP cerarah attended by 6,000 PR supporters here on Sunday night.

Former de-facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (pix) said the voters must be brave to stand against the political might of Barisan Nasional and Ummo which control the laws and administration of the country and elect PR candidate former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the new Bukit Gantang MP in tomorrow’s by-election.

Zaid said “We do not have the power to fight against the political might of BN but during time of elections we have the power to vote for the candidate of our choice.”

Commenting on Sunday’s release of the two Hindraf leaders arrested under Internal Security Acton, Zaid said “Arresting (them) and then releasing (them) is not lawful! The law must be respected by the government and that all races in the country are Malaysians.”

He said “The voters must reject racial and dirty politics (in tomorrow’s by-election).”

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the change of Prime Minister in the country is nothing new as the same system is practised in the ISA policy, a few ISA detainees are released and then more are arrested later on as shown in the history of the nation.

He was commenting on Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak who replaced Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister of the country on Friday.

Anwar asked why it was wrong for Nizar to give state land to poor Malays, Chinese and Indians who are the citizens of the country, when BN had given the whole Genting Highlands to a private concern and also Pangkor Island to another private developer.

He asked why is Nizar being labelled as a stooge of DAP when it is not true whereas the same can also be said of MCA being a stooge of Umno.

He warned BN not to underestimate the wisdom of Malays who can see ground realities better than the BN government.

Anwar wants the birth of a spirit of a new Malaysian society where all races can discuss, have a give and take attitude to solve all problems.

To achieve this, voters must return Nizar with a bigger majority in tomorrow’s election to show the power of the people he added.

Meanwhile Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Nizar had always safeguarded the interests of all the races when he was Perak Mentri Besar and voters must start the ball rolling in Bukit Gantang by-election to free Malaysia from BN rule.

Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz who was not feeling well, said that Najib’s’ One Malaysia’ policy is nothing new as Pas has been always practising such a policy and DAP has also projected Malaysia for all Malaysians policy.

Aziz said it is not possible for Umno to practice ‘One Malaysia’ policy as it is against their ‘Ketuanan’ policy.

Karpal Singh said a win in this by-election will give the confidence for PR to form the next federal government in the 13th general election.

He took a dig at Datuk Seri Samy Vellu and called him “Hantu Besar” for trying to take the credit for the release of the two Hindraf leaders on Sunday.

Karpal said that if Nazib is sincere in his efforts as Prime Minister then he must free all the ISA detainees and he questioned why Najib is scared of the Mongolian woman’s name being

mentioned in public and said that he is not afraid to name her in public.

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang told the voters to vote Nizar as Bukit Gantang MP to reject Najib who has lots of problems which have not been solved. He said the entry of Mahathir into politics is the start of another Mahathirism era in the country - theSun