Reloaded : My choice - Johor MB

Reloaded : My choice - Johor MB

Ok, I'm giving this another try - who should be my favourite candidate to replace Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman as Johor MB?

My posting on this same topic yesterday had caused some discomfort among some good people, so that I decided to take it down. It was out of respect for those people that I did that for the first time. Apologised some more. Actually, I'm so fond of joking around that sometimes I forgot that some people have rather poor sense of humour. Bad people I don't mind offending too much, but these ones are good people and I rather not cause them too much distress.

To start with,, of course being a supporter of Ghani, I wish he could continue as MB, but I know the man now just want to retire and rest. So, let him be lah. Ghani has already done a lot for Johor. He is already 65, been an MB for 16 years (the longest serving Johor MB ever) and quite fed-up with some of those ingrates who keep on attacking him to get his post.

Now, with the general election being just around the corner, and Ghani's departure seems more certain than ever, candidates for the MB post are lobbying like nobody's business. It's actually quite intense, but fortunately it doesn't affect Johor BN's preparations for the coming general  election too much.

Ghani and his band of people continue as usual, criss crossing the State, checking and tweaking the Johor BN machinery to ensure everything run smoothly once the election date is announced. Looking at the way they work, no one would expect that Ghani is going to retire and his followers need to look for new jobs soon.

As it is typical of Johor Umno, they do fight against each others on certain matters, but the fight will largely be confined among themselves and once they need to unite, they will somehow able to do so, especially when facing external threats. Probably its good decipline and leadership which help them along.

Of course there are some exceptions, particularly in cases of absolute greed or plain selfish stupidity causing cracks within the rank. These however are exceptions rather than  norms.

As for the struggle for the Johor MB post, these are names listed in several previous postings in this blog (rearranged as according to their current chances of getting the job) -
1. Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed
2. Datuk Dr Latiff Ahmad
3. Datuk Razali Ibrahim
4. Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin
5. Aziz Kaprawi
6. Datuk Othman Yusof
7. Jais Sarday
8. Datuk Osman Sapian

Yup, really, Jazlan is now at number one. Khaled, who used to be at the top spot had slide to go all the way behind Razali. Those with super duper contacts at high places in KL should double check this in case you all think that I am bluffing.

However as we move along, let it be known that my choice is none of those eight guys in the list.

Mine is a very tough guy.

Nope, he is not Darth Vader. That picture is just for fun only....please aarrr....nobody get offended ya.

This candidate of mine is a tough guy because he works really hard for Umno and BN, not a glamour seeker, and had proven to be capable of administering the state's affairs. Most importantly though, this man is incorruptible. He is also arguably the only one capable at the moment of ensuring the continuation of current good works being done by the present State administration.

This choice of mine is really a long shot though and therefore his identity is not important to be revealed here.

I will just pray that PM DS Najib Razak would not overlooked this guy while considering a suitable candidate for the Johor MB post...that is, once he has to do so. 

Puss in Boots' potential Johor MB

Puss in Boots' potential Johor MB

Had a very nice lunch with some very handsome gentlemen today.

One of them, who looks quite like Puss in Boots told me he got a new list of potential Johor MB candidates.

He said since I seem to be into this new Johor MB guessing business, I probably have some ideas of who among those in the list would probably get the job.

First of all, three out of the five candidates in the list were from the old list I had already posted - Nur Jazlan, Dr Latiff and Razali Ibrahim.

The other two are....well, new -
1. Md Jais Sarday, State Youth and Sports Exco, Kluang Umno chief and Mahkota Assemblyman.
    My verdict - Performance as an exco was not very outstanding. Does not have the required stature to hold Johor Umno together. Kluang is a grey area for BN. Jais need to do more in his area before having any hope of becoming an MB

2. Datuk Md Othman Yusof, Tanjung Piai Umno chief and Kukup Assemblyman
    My verdict - Tanjung Piai is a grey area. Othman need to improve the chances of BN winning comfortably in his own area before harbouring any hope of becoming an MB. My last check in Tanjung Piai indicated that the BN machinery there was still kalam kabut. Othman however was said to have strong backers in KL and a lot of "resources".

Ok, going through the list again, I noticed something glaring. Front runner Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin was missing. That's weird. My conclusion was therefore - the new list must have originated from KL and not JB. Why? If the list comes from JB, there is no way Khaled's name would be missing.

Hmmm....nice entertainment these MB wannabes, aren't they?

An aspiring MB and his merry men

An aspiring MB and his merry men

What la this latest thing I heard about people of a certain aspiring MB behaving so unashamedly as if their boss is already certain to get the job.

Cannot wait until Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman step down first ka? Cannot wait until after the general election ka? Cheyyy....

Hey, malu you know behaving like that.

I hear this from the JCS people, ok? Not Ghani people. Ghani people had already been told not to make noise about this nonsense as they need to focus on the coming general election.

These JCS people told me that this bunch of people are already touring Kota Iskandar, telling the people there which rooms they are going to occupy when their boss become menteri besar.

They were said to have even asked for the list of JCS people so that they can determine in advance who are to go to what post to suit their "needs".

Let's not even let me begin on how these bunch of people use filthy tactics to make sure Ghani vacate the MB post so that their boss can take over. Eh, Ghani don't want the post anymore la. No need to be so gelojoh, ok?

This is the old sickness of Umno. Party members who think they are so powerful just because they are from Umno. Lebih sudu dari kuah (more spoon than gravy). These are the sorts of people who are the curse of Umno.

These are the sorts of nonsense behavior which make people who are pro-Umno but not party members got sick of Umno. Lets not even talk about the fence sitters let alone those on the other side.

I don't know whether their boss know about their behaviour but if he does, he better tell them to stop it.

I know, the PM is going to spend quite a lot of time in their area when he visit Johor next month. But they should get it in their thick skull that he is going there not to endorse their boss as the next Johor MB. He is going there because their area is classified as "grey". That means their area are in danger and the PM need to be there to bolster support for BN. Got it or not? Sheeessshhh....   

Talks on the ground among Johor contractors at the moment are that, if this aspiring MB really get the job, they need to hike up the cost of their projects by as high as 100 per cent  to accommodate the demands of his machais.

I tell you....if this happened, Johor will definitely go into the longkang.  This is what I have feared all the while.

My prayers now is for PM DS Najib Razak to be strong and wise in his decision.

Please Datuk Najib,   appoint someone who can really take care of Johor after Ghani retires.

I guarantee you, if a wrong choice was made, that's the end of Johor as we know it.

Dream of a corrupted pro-BN blogger

Dream of a corrupted pro-BN blogger

It's almost 2am and I can't sleep. Suddenly feeling hungry. No proper food in the kitchen. End up cooking maggi kari. Put in an egg and a huge onion. Quite nice also. Still...so much for being a rich corrupted pro-BN blogger.

I am now lying on the floor in front of my new second hand netbook. Really love this thing. No need to go to the cybercafe any more. Can write anything any time now.

My next big project is to buy a computer table. Must find one which is cheaper than this netbook. Budget for the table should be around RM150. Maybe can find some second hand stuff again.

Ok, maybe I will buy that after getting a new pair of shoes. The one I'm wearing to office now has really worn out. Hmmmm....see lah how.

I know, most of those reading this probably think that I am bluffing. But those who really know me actually would think that I'm being mild. Either way, I don't care lah. I'm now just having itchy fingers and want to write something. Crap also never mind. Anyone want to read or not, not my problem.

Actually, my salary is not so bad. It is just that I have lots of commitments. After taking care of things, I don't have much left for myself. That's why I have to live a hobo life like this.

Anyway, I think my life will be better after the next general election. BN will retain Johor, hopefully, by wiping out the Pakatan people (which is hard but not impossible). I will then be able to do what I really want and leave this beloved State of Johor.

Let others worry about Johor without Ghani Othman as MB. I am quite certain now he is retiring after leading Johor BN through the election. My bet is now on Khaled Nordin. Sorry YB Osman Sapian. I know you are the leading candidate now, but I'm just being realistic about the choice between you and Khaled. Well, good luck Johoreans.

I have made some plans. Even scouted the place I'm heading. Probably end of this year. Hopefully PM will call for the election around June. Just nice for my plans to fall into place.

This is the place I am planning to go.

It is really a nice place. I am going to buy a bicycle and use it to go to class which is somewhere near where this picture was taken....cycling in winter....very cold, but so nice  :)

KPRJ and Danga Bay

KPRJ and Danga Bay

I had decided to abandon my KPRJ story.

The one I've written so far was too long and convoluted. I have to admit that I am not a good writer. Somebody scolded me today and said I am writing crap when I showed the one I had done so far and told me to throw it away into the longkang.

I would therefore like to apologise to those who have been waiting for that story.

Anyway, I don't want that KPRJ story to suffer the same fate as the long long  Khazanah's explanation on Medini in Utusan.

As compensation, here is the full speech delivered by Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman at the 15th anniversary of  Danga Bay earlier today.

It is concise and easy to understand.

UCAPAN YAB DATO’ HAJI ABDUL GHANI BIN OTHMAN, MENTERI BESAR JOHOR DI MAJLIS SAMBUTAN 15 TAHUN DANGA BAY DI PUSAT KONVENSYEN DANGA BAY, PADA 12 FEB 2012.

Bismillahiirahmaniirahim

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Salam Sejahtera.

Mengadap Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, Sultan dan Yang Dipertuan Bagi Negeri dan Jajahan Takluk Johor Darul Ta’zim.

Dan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Zarith Sofia Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.

Ampun Tuanku,

Patik bagi pihak Kerajaan Negeri dan seluruh hadirin sekalian, dengan penuh hormat takzimnya merafak sembah menjunjung setinggi-tinggi kasih atas perkenan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku dan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Zarith Sofia Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, mencemar duli berangkat ke Majlis Sambutan Ulangtahun ke-15 Danga Bay pada petang ini.

Sesungguhnya keberangkatan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku melambangkan kesungguhan dan sokongan yang amat sangat serta menambahkan lagi serinya majlis ini.

Ampun Tuanku

Patik juga menjunjung kasih di atas keberangkatan Duli Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Mahkota Johor dan Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Idris Iskandar Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Temenggong Johor, Paduka Putera-Putera serta Kerabat Diraja sekalian ke majlis ini.

Ampun Tuanku

Patik mohon perkenan untuk berucap kepada hadirin sekalian.

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak
Perdana Menteri Malaysia dan

Yang Amat Dihormati Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor,

Yang Berhormat Menteri-Menteri Kabinet,
Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat,
Tan Sri-Tan Sri dan Dato-Dato
Serta Dif-Dif Jemputan yang dihormati sekalian.

1. Alhamdulillah, bersyukur kita ke hadrat Allah SWT kerana dengan rahmat dan limpah kurnia-Nya, dapat kita menghadiri majlis pada petang ini sempena ulangtahun ke-15 Danga Bay.

2. Bagi pihak kerajaan negeri, saya mengalu-alukan kehadiran YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Perdana Menteri Malaysia, dan Yang Amat Dihormati Datin Seri yang sudi meluangkan masa melawat negeri Johor, khususnya ke Danga Bay. Kehadiran YAB Dato’ Seri dalam lawatan singkat ini, tentunya turut menjadi dorongan kepada usaha-usaha memakmurkan negeri Johor yang sedang pesat membangun.

3. Kerajaan Negeri pada 15 tahun lalu melihat bahawa Johor memerlukan pembangunan yang lebih seimbang lagi menyeluruh, lebih-lebih lagi dari segi keperluan asas rakyat, bukan sahaja di bandar-bandar dan pekan-pekan bahkan di kampung-kampung.

4. Sehubungan itu kerajaan negeri menubuhkan sebuah syarikat iaitu Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) untuk melaksanakan pembangunan infrastruktur luar bandar melalui kaedah pembiayaan daripada pembangunan tanah yang dikurniakan kepada syarikat tersebut.

5. Selain pembinaan jalan-jalan kampung di seluruh negeri dan daerah, KPRJ juga membina penempatan semula perumahan setinggan termasuk di Kong Kong, Tok Siak, Bakar Batu dan Sri Stulang untuk dinikmati oleh 6,000 keluarga. Pendekatan ini membolehkan rakyat menikmati pembangunan keperluan asas tersebut dalam tempoh lebih cepat.

6. Dalam masa dua tahun pertama mulai tahun 1996, KPRJ menyiapkan 1,700 kilometer jalan kampung di 1,500 kampung di seluruh negeri Johor. Namun selepas itu, berlakulah kegawatan ekonomi dan KPRJ berdepan dengan keadaan mencabar untuk melunaskan pinjamannya kerana pembangunan tanah tidak dapat dilaksanakan.

7. Satu lagi cabarannya ialah tanah-tanah yang dikurniakan itu rata-rata merupakan kawasan paya, muara sungai, dalam air dan yang diduduki oleh setinggan.

8. KPRJ berusaha mencari pelabur untuk usahasama termasuk syarikat-syarikat yang tersenarai, tetapi mereka hanya bersedia menyertainya dengan mencadangkan nilai tanah pada harga beberapa sen sahaja setiap kaki persegi.

9. Dalam keadaan mencabar tersebut, muncul satu syarikat yang sanggup melabur dengan menilaikan tanah seluas 350 ekar itu, yang masih di dalam air, pada harga RM23 sekaki persegi. Melalui usaha ini KPRJ telah dapat melunaskan pinjaman sebanyak RM200 juta.

10. Selanjutnya pembangunan tanah-tanah tersebut dilaksanakan secara usahasama melalui kaedah Public Private Partnership (PPP) di mana kerajaan bersama-sama memegang ekuiti di dalam syarikat berkenaan iaitu Danga Bay Sdn Bhd.  Pelan pembangunan Danga Bay ini telah dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri ketika itu, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

11. Pendekatan pembangunan oleh Danga Bay Sdn Bhd ialah menyediakan kemudahan rekreasi untuk orang ramai terlebih dahulu sebelum tumpuan diberikan kepada pembinaan untuk tujuan komersil. Kawasan Danga Bay yang dahulunya tidak terurus, kini telah menjadi tumpuan keluarga, khususnya pada hujung minggu untuk beriadah.

12. Setelah 10 tahun pembangunan Danga Bay dilaksanakan, Kerajaan Persekutuan melancarkan pembangunan Iskandar Malaysia pada tahun 2006 dan menyalurkan dana pembangunan untuk meningkatkan infrastruktur yang membolehkan jadinya Pembangunan Iskandar. Ini telah mengukuhkan lagi pembangunan di Danga Bay.

13. Pembangunan melalui perkongsian Public Private Partnership di Danga Bay ini berkembang daripada kawasan Barat Johor Baru, iaitu di Danga Bay, ke Timur Johor Baru yang melibatkan kawasan di Lembangan Tebrau Plentong. Seterusnya, untuk mengukuhkan  jentera pembangunan  ini, KPRJ-Danga Bay telah dilantik untuk pembangunan semula pusat Bandaraya Johor Bahru (CBD). Pembangunan CBD ini dijalankan bersama-sama dengan pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan di kawasan yang terlibat.

14. Justeru itu, Danga Bay dijenamakan semula dengan nama Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd dan ditugaskan sebagai Master Developer untuk kawasan Timur, Barat dan Tengah Bandaraya Johor Bahru. Dengan ini, Negeri Johor telah pun melaksanakan satu projek yang benar benar merupakan perkongsian di antara awam dan swasta (Public Private Partnership).

15. Semua ini dapat diterjemahkan dengan sokongan dari Kerajaan Persekutuan, dan sokongan ini berterusan melalui dana Facilitation yang kini telah diluluskan untuk pembersihan Sungai Segget sebanyak RM200 juta serta RM200 juta lagi untuk projek “The Venetian” di Sungai Danga. Kerajaan Negeri sangat menghargai keperihatinan dan sokongan kuat Kerajaan Persekutuan ini dalam usaha membangunkan Negeri Johor.

Ampun Tuanku,

Sesungguhnya segala perancangan yang telah patik sembahkan, dengan ini patik memohon perkenan dan restu Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku untuk dilaksanakan dengan jayanya.

Akhir sekali, patik berdoa agar Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku sentiasa berada dalam peliharaan Allah SWT, sihat walafiat, selamat sejahtera, aman sentosa dan makmur berpanjangan.

Wabillahitaufik Walhidayah, Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Ampun Tuanku.

Innocent until proven guilty

Innocent until proven guilty

When I was younger, I had always wanted to be a lawyer.

At that time, I had this idea that lawyers are a heroic bunch of people. Even wasted several years of my life in law school, trying to be one of them. Guess I watched too much court room drama movies la back then.

Anyway, while studying the law, I developed this habit of trying to understand people accused of wrongdoing. That's probably, because I had then wanted to be a barrister and go to court defending innocent people. Sounds so noble, unlike those glorified clerks whom they called conveyancing lawyers. Silly me....

Nonetheless, this habit of mine somehow had stuck till today. That is why one may find all these weird postings in this blog where I seemingly side with rather unpopular characters.

This was my second posting right after starting this blog about four months ago -
Is she really a crook?
It was about that lady, everyone seems to dislike - Zarinah Anwar of SC.
At the moment I wrote that posting, Zarinah was the punching bag of the day among the bloggers.

I read all those negative things about her and decided to try to know the woman. I mean the personal side of her.
I actually never met Zarinah.
What I found was that she is from a good family and her upbringing seems to be excellent. Her track records before she joined SC was similarly impeccable. In fact, after she joined SC, she was still doing well until those controversies hit her.

OK, the husband seems to be a bit of a shady character, but I kinda like Zarinah as a person. That is at least from what I found out about her.

I also think she is quite an elegant looking lady. In fact, when I am older, I hope I can look a bit like her.

I had not actually so much wanted to dispute the allegations against Zarinah, but merely feels that it was rather unfair to accuse her of this and that without knowing the human side of the lady. More importantly, I just don't want to swallow just any negative information about anyone without knowing a bit more about the person.

BTW, for the record, I personally think that Zarinah and her SC team did contribute to the fact that the country's capital market grew from a sheer water drop to over RM2 trillion in 2010.  Can't be all too bad, I think.

Then there were those postings about Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
So many seems to prefer him to be replaced from his current post which got me a bit exasperated.

I know Ghani rather well, despite not being qualified to claim myself his friend. The man is good. I got no other simple word to describe him.

Ok, so he has been the MB for a long time, but does Johor really have a suitable candidate to replace him at the moment? I know, now I sound like a broken record.

Never mind, I now honestly hope that he retires or at least go to a Federal position after the coming general election. I think he doesn't have to continue to endure the bullshit that goes along with his current position. Nonetheless I really don't envy the person who is going to replace him as Johor MB. The job is simply not easy, that is, if it is to be done properly.

Fine, enough about Ghani. After all, I think I already wrote too much about him in previous postings.

I had also posted several other write-ups on persons and institutions not seems to be well liked such as Arlida Ariff and her IIB staff, the Chinese schools, and the latest, businessman Lim Kang Hoo and terror suspect Zulkifli Abdul Khir.

Whatever I wrote about them are my personal opinion based on whatever info I could find about them.

It amused me when some of the commentators accused me of being on the take for writing something neutral or a bit sympathetic about these people. Does it ever occurred to them that there are actually people who simply write because they like to write about a certain kind of subject?  That maybe they are not motivated by material gains?  That writing could possibly be a hobby for them, a creative and intellectually stimulating outlet for the curious mind?

Why must it always be that just because a person does not have any honour with a soul being corrupted with greed and envy that this person assumed everyone else is the same way?

I would just quit if I'm Ghani

I would just quit if I'm Ghani

Had dinner with a good friend who is a journalist last night.

He told me about his meeting with KL-based Johorean blogger BigDog earlier in the day.

Asked me what I think of Mr Bigdog's latest posting.

It's a bit long, I think. But I don't want to comment on it. I think I know where it was heading, but let it be lah.

I am honestly still in CNY mood. No energy to call up here and there to check on other blogger's postings or spend time doing research. BTW, I think I ate too many mandarin oranges. Caused extra gas in my tummy liao.

Well, even if I try to give my view, most likely BigDog will have his own take on it. No point going ding dong with him.

As far as I am concerned, pro-Umno KL-based Johorean bloggers like BigDog and A Voice had made up their mind that Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman need to let go off his post ASAP. Based on their postings on Johor, I don't think they like Ghani too much anyway.

So, no point in arguing about that. After all, these good fellas want the best for their party. So, if they feel that Johor Umno will be better off without Ghani, then so be it. I am not even an Umno member, so, why should I be bothered too much. Let them be happy with the likes of Khaled Nordin or Osman Sapian as Johor MB.

By the way, heard Ghani was under pressured by his family members to quit as MB too. They were said to be tired of being slandered because many Umno people think Ghani wants so much to cling on to the post. My sources in PMO had even confirmed that Ghani had conveyed the message about his situation to PM DS Najib Razak. The PM was however said to be quite unhappy about it.

Actually, if I am Ghani, I would quit too. Being Johor MB is definitely not a walk in the park. And the slanderous and libelous stuff one needs to endure is great. And the family have to suffer along.

If Ghani is reading this, here is my message to him -

Datuk, I think you just quit lah. No point continuing sacrificing for all these ungrateful people. You are 65 already. Time to have a time for yourself and your family. Enough la those 16 years as MB, juggling between the interests of the rakyat, the palace, the corporate sector, the JCS etc etc.
  People said lots of nonsense about you and your family members over the years. As if you got so rich being an MB (how I wish those people could reveal the billions of ringgits that you had looted instead of just accusing you of these and that). Why don't you just let those buggers become MB. They want it so much, so let them lah. Let us see how Khaled Nordin or Osman Sapian brings Johor to greater heights, as they so fondly said so. You have done enough for Johor. Not only they are not thankful, but they even spit on you...and your family too.
  I know, you said this is a "perjuangan sepanjang hayat", but its ok lah. You cannot be too principled. Nobody really care about principles anyway these days. All that matters to them is whether you as MB can make them rich or not. They got contract or not....not withstanding whether they really work for it. If you don't give them (because they are just assholes who only care about their own tembolok) they will go on a warpath to kick you out. Hell, they are even willing to kick your wife and children too.
  So, Datuk Ghani, I think you just quit lah. I am also quitting Johor after this general election. Enough lah. Tired already liao.

Ok, happy or not. I told Ghani to quit already. What else you all want? Sheeeeshhhs......

ps. Datuk Ghani, almost forgot, please tell your people not to give up for now and continue with the preparations for the general election. You and they all must ensure BN still hold Johor before leaving. Must go with clear conscience ma.

Hidup Melayu Bersatu

Hidup Melayu Bersatu

"Hidup Melayu Bersatu" is the title of a book by Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman

.

In conjunction with the Umno general assembly which starts  tomorrow, I am posting this poem by Ghani which was placed at the start of his book.

This is the most important Umno general assembly ever as the party prepares for the coming general election which I deemed as the most crucial for Umno since the fight against the Malayan Union.

This coming general election is a do or die fight for Umno. So, Umno people, read this poem carefully and WAKE UP!!!!

PERJUANGAN SEPANJANG HAYAT

Bersatulah bangsa ku, bersatu lah
Dihadapan sana menanti cabaran tak terjangkau
Ombak ribut taufan kan menyerang
Seperti sejarah silam yang telah memahatkan
Keruntuhan Melaka masa lalu
Dek kelemahan bangsaku

Ingatlah bangsaku
Hanya perpaduan menjadi benteng ampuh
Hanya perpaduan menjadi benteng ampuh
Hanya perpaduan menjadi benteng ampuh

Kejayaan bangsa dan negara selamanya
Ditegakkan dari tonggak perpaduan
Kerana perpaduanlah penjajah diusir berambus pergi
Kerana perpaduanlah kemerdekaan dicapai sebebas-bebasnya
Kerana perpaduanlah komunis dihapuskan keakar-akarnya
Kita lalu mendirikan sekolah, membina masjid, hospital
Gedung besar untuk kita kecapi bersama
Membangunkan ekonomi bangsa
Menukar rimba belantara menjadi kota besar
Kilang tersergam dimana-mana
Ladang menghijau hasil mahsulnya melimpah ruah
Pelabuhan dan jalan raya pun terbentang untuk semua
Anak-anak kesekolah dan universiti
Orang muda bertungkus lumus mengumpul rezeki
Yang tua hidup aman damai dirumah sendiri

Hanya perpaduan yang teguh, persatuan yang kukuh
Akan menyelamatkan bangsa daripada dihancurkan
Oleh onar dalam dan onar luar
Oleh oportunis dan pengkhianat yang licik
Menabur duri dan onar sepanjang jalan menuju wawasan besar kita

Maka ayuhlah kita menginsafi diri
Bahawa dikampung dan didesa dibandar dan juga dikota
Racun fitnah dan pembohongan telah disebar
Dan membangkitkan kebencian dan permusuhan
Percayalah semua ini telah disemai oleh tangan kita sendiri
Oleh bangsa sendiri yang telah lupa diri
Dan mabuk dalam nikmat kemakmuran
Dihasut dengki peribadi dan ketamakan diri
Telah berpecah belahlah bangsa kita
Dalam segenap bidang kehidupan
Dan sipetualang itu sedang merayau-rayau diudara
Sesekali melangkah kebumi sesekali meninggi keawan
Ada yang sedang bersembunyi dihutan subur kita
Ada yang sedang berlayar dilautan luas kita
Disungai-sungai bumi tanah air kita
Mereka sedang menunggu waktu terbaik
Untuk merampas dan menjarah apa yang kita nikmati

Inilah sumpah perjuangan untuk watan dan bangsa merdeka
Dan perjuangan untuk watan adalah perjuangan suci
Perjuangan ini adalah perjuangan sepanjang hayat
Dalam segala bidang keagamaan, keilmuan, ekonomi dan budaya
Dan maka perjuangan suci ini harus dihayati
Dan digerakkan oleh seluruh anak watan
Kerana perjuangan ini tanggungjawab semua

Bersatulah bangsaku, bersatulah
Sesat ditengah jalan, kita pulang kepermulaan langkah
Lupakan saja tamak haloba yang membuahkan dendam
Amarah, dengki, khianat, kesumat dan permusuhan
Yang berasa bersalah memohon ampun, dan kita maafkan
Yang tua dihormati, yang muda dikasihi

Bersatulah bangsaku, bersatulah
Ayuh kita berdiri teguh menentang
Segala cabaran dan rintangan
Jangan biarkan cita-cita besar kita kandas
Dan terjurumus kejurang maha gelap maha dalam itu
Percayalah, sesal kemudian tidak berguna apa-apa
Rumah nenek moyang kita bangunkan
Dari jerih perit perjuangan silam ini
Jangan dibiar terlepas ketangan orang lain
Dan disini hari ini, berjanjilah wahai bangsaku
Perjuangan ini perjuangan sepanjang hayat

Abdul Ghani Othman
Kembara Puisi Darul Ta'zim
Saujana, Johor Bahru

Birth of Iskandar Malaysia - for non-Johoreans

Birth of Iskandar Malaysia - for non-Johoreans

When Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman took up the mantle of leadership in Johor, he clearly displayed his balanced outlook, by introducing the holistic development approach in his first budget speech in 1996.

  In essence, his holistic development approach ensures that economic development of the state must be balanced with the development of its people's well-being.

  With that, Johor embarked on upgrading its clean water processing and distribution to provide clean water to as many people as possible.

  They also embarked on the rural road programme "Jalan Kampung" through state GLC KPRJ, that finally saw thousands of kilometers of rural roads getting the tarred treatment, creating better accessibility to rural produce and services.

  The arts in the form of music and dance were also added to schools' extra curricular activities to ensure students with such inclination has an outlet within a controlled environment and minimise the truancy problem.  It brought "Zapin", a folk dance particular to Johor, into international attention such that Johor kids are now performing the dance internationally.  It is also in a way part of Ghani's effort to maintain the "jati diri" (identity) of the Johor Malays.

  In balance, mosques throughout the state were also encouraged to hold frequent and regular community activities to ensure that they stayed relevant as part of the spiritual fulfillment for muslims and the communities they served.  State-sponsored religious education continued being strengthened with linkages to enable a promising advanced education and career options for students while more schools were built.

  State-sponsored community colleges were also introduced throughout the state to equip less academically-inclined youngsters with employable skills that will improve their future potential.
  A number of forest reserves and natural heritage sites were also identified and gazetted to ensure that the state's dwindling natural forests are preserved and allowed to grow back up to the 30% mark set by the state planners while natural sciences research centres were encouraged to set up operation in the state's national parks.

  Despite the 1997/98 financial crisis which was highly detrimental to Johor institutions, and with a number of its public commercial initiatives facing ruin, Ghani managed to steer not only these Johor institutions out of bad weather, but ensure they continue to grow stronger in the aftermath.  

  He was even more convinced that Johor's holistic approach towards development, will be the key sustaining factor that will be its defence against a recurrence of similar crisis as evidence in his 1999 budget speech.

  Economics, afterall, consists of peaks and trenches, and no doubt that dips will happen again.

  Johor and its people must be made fundamentally strong to ensure that it will be able to weather such crises with minimal damage and with that came the requirement to re-position Johor as a top investment destination that will rival the best in the region.

  Core to the plan will be making the most of Johor's ideal location, existing logistics facilities, abundant resources and industrious locals to attract would be investors that will spur development of new industries, and ensure industrial resilience by re-structuring its economic growth drivers.
  Firstly, Johor is blessed with a coastline that continues from the east to the west of the peninsular.  It has three international seaports and an international airport, many industrial parks, in addition to being located on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.  What is required is a good road network or highway systems connecting them all, that will also facilitate better east-west access to raw materials and open up new areas for development.

  Secondly, Johor Bahru was also getting heavily congested and subjected to frequent flash floods while state buildings and housing occupy some of the most high-value real estate in the city.  A new seat of government similar to Putrajaya is required, away from the commercial hustle and bustle of the city, but within easy distance that will not be inconvenient to the public, which will also free high-value real estate for commercialisation and the transformation of Johor Bahru City Centre.
  Thirdly, its proximity to Singapore should be capitalised to benefit Johor; instead of simply being Singapore's backyard or hinterland, Johor should aspire to build a city of equal stature socially, if not commercially, to the city nation.

  Historically, Johor had not been very high on the list of Federal infrastructure development funding as states such as Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan or Penang, but this time around the state required Federal assistance to make this a reality.

  It had always been a middling state, not poor enough to require attention, but not near enough to the seat of power like Selangor to require Federal infrastructure focus, or as historically significant colonial outposts as Melaka or Penang to attract tourism projects.
  The state itself did not have the financial means to make all this happen within a time-frame that would make it meaningful, nor would it likely be able to raise the funds itself considering the many development programmes continuously being put in place to raise the quality of living for the rakyat.

  But Johor must position itself for the new millenium, therefore Federal assistance was required to make the transformation in a timely manner and a proposal was worked out by the planners at Bukit Timbalan.
  Ghani and his people had then drafted a comprehensive plan for it in early 2000s and when it was submitted to the Federal Government, was given the green light by then PM Dr Mahathir. 

  However, by the time it was possible to implement the plan, it was Pak Lah at the helm.  Not only did the original plan became a "corridor", the crooked bridge was also cancelled, MRCB via its 4th Floor networkings made inroads through the EDL, and that legacy is now entrenched in Irda and JCorp.
  Nonetheless, Iskandar Malaysia, is for now the only one of all the development corridors which still has the potential to meet its objectives.
  

Johor GE13 : The true Ghani's loyalists

Johor GE13 : The true Ghani's loyalists

The ongoing ground work of Johor BN is at a relentless speed now as the next general election draws near.

To the surprise of many, especially the bigwigs at Umno HQ in KL, Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman had choosen to ignore their directive to hold a State BN convention. Some, were actually very pissed off with him.

Ghani had choosen instead to go straight to the ground visiting the peti undi areas and personally tweaking whatever need to be tweaked. This is the same strategy he used to secure BN's comprehensive win in the Tenang by-election.

It is understood, that Ghani had choosen to ignore the KL's directive as it was felt that holding a convention will be a waste of time and resources and not be of any benefit for BN in its effort to win the GE. It is just gathering a few thousands party members, have a talk fest full of jingoism, eat nice food, give each other a pat in the back, and then go home.

Going straight to the ground on the other hand enable assessments to be made on the spot and problems solved in the shortest time possible.

But it should be noted that Johor has almost 1,000 peti undi areas and Ghani is trying to cover all of them before the next GE which is just around the corner. My bet is, it will be in April next year.

This exhaustive tour throughout Johor must be done without let up. The objective was to ensure a BN clean sweep in the State - a very difficult one but not impossible.

Now, the most amazing thing about the whole thing is that, Ghani had made the decision based on the recommendation of one of his staff, who despite knowing the difficulties and hardship he himself will have to endure, had choosen to make the recommendation anyway.

Considering the tough fight ahead due to the changing political landscape since 2008, I strongly believe that the decision  was correct. There is no easy way to ensure BN's win this time.

Ghani's effort is actually heavily dependent on a small team of staff, who work mostly behind the scene, preparing all the materials for presentations and strategy road maps, data collecting, follow-up works etc etc.

These bunch of people are whom I see as the real Ghani's loyalists.

Except for their relatively small salaries, they got nothing else. And knowing some of them, I realise they are not even expecting or asking for anything more than that.

I am dead certain that none of them had ever ask Ghani to appoint them as a board member of some fancy corporation - that previlage apparently belong to some other group of people.

Some of you may be thinking that I am bullshitting you again. But really, go ahead and ask Ghani himself if you don't believe me. These people really exist.

One of these Ghani's loyalists had told me not to be too sad about the Kulim appointments after she read my last posting which was on the matter.

"I am not being a blind follower of Ghani. He must have his own reason for allowing that to happen.. Ghani has always done the right thing. Let's trust his decision again this time," she said.

I was not however buying it.

"Come on la, you yourself know that at least that Wan Firdaus prick is not qualified in any way to sit as a member of any sort of BOD. You yourself had told me that you had checked the boy's works and they are nothing but crap ," I shot back at her.

These were her reply -

"Ok, just calm down. Whatever it is, Ghani can't afford to have people like you to turn your back on him now. We are facing a bigger fight soon and he need every single one of us. Bear with this one. We can always deal with it after the election."

At that moment I felt like laughing. This lady is still loyal to Ghani despite everything. I know for a fact that she is just a contract worker earning less than me and has no pay increase ever since she work for Ghani almost half a decade ago. (And my salary is not that great either - I can only afford to rent a room for RM300 a month....and I can't even afford to buy a laptop)

I did ask her once, whether she is worried that she may not have a job in the event this is Ghani's last term as MB. Her simple reply was that she can always find another job. True enough, after I did my checks, she turned out to be formerly a highly-paid senior manager of a multi-national company. Surely she can always get another job.

So. what made these sorts of people loyal to Ghani?

Honestly, after the Kulim thingy. I am not so sure.  But from the Ghani whom I know, he sorts of inspire people by his sincerity and integrity. He makes people who bothered to know him better believe that there are still good and honest politicians around.

I may not see Ghani in the same way as before after the Kulim appointments but I will always salute his loyalists who despite everything continue to stand by their man.

A very sad day

A very sad day

I am writing this with extreme sadness in my heart.

This posting by BigDog today really broke my heart -

JCorp Jumbo-Mumbo

I tried very hard the whole morning to find out what had happened but my efforts were futile.

Being an ardent supporter of Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, I find the appointments of Ahmad Zaki Zahid, Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuad, Edward Leung Kok Keong and Natasha Kamaluddin into the highest positions of Kulim, the subsidiary of JCorp simply unpalatable. These people are part of the young liberals bunch who almost wrecked this country via the Fourth Floor Boys of the Pak Lah era.

Datuk Ghani, what have you done? Don't you realise these appointments will destroy everything good that you had done for Johor these past 16 years?

For one, Datuk, I know you are fond of your special assistant Wan Firdaus, but that boy is really no good. Are you aware of the kind of nonsense he pulled in Irda? Please check with your people. I mean, your people who have been loyal to you all these years and had sacrificed so much without expecting any "special" things from you. Check with them how Malik Imtiaz Sharwar, a member of the DAP's Penang government's think tank was invited to give a lecture on how great the Penang and Selangor administrations are compared to the the Federal government at the Irda headquarters on Oct 24.

Datuk Ghani, I still trust that you are the best man to lead Johor for now, as I don't see anyone else to replace you.  But really, I am tired. I don't know what is the rationale behind those appointments, but I believe the damage is done. The daggers are out to stab you Datuk Ghani. And these are not even the daggers of the Pakatan people.



My prayers with you Datuk Ghani.

Am I bullshitting you?

Am I bullshitting you?

Been off-grid over the past few days. Running around doing my work and no time to drop by the cyber cafe to post anything for this blog.

Yup, I am operating this blog from a cybercafe. The truth is, I don't even have a personal computer. Simple reason, because I can't afford to buy one yet. Contrary to popular belief, not all pro-BN bloggers are paid Umno cybertroopers or someone rich and fat from ill-gotten gain.

That cat is not me. I put the picture just because I wish I have that sort of  laptop.
Never mind, I will ask my financial controller to buy me a laptop like that. Hopefully my no-good bosses will give me some nice bonus end of this year so that I can afford it. It's really hard to write something with a nine-year old kid playing some gory shoot-em-up computer game sitting next to me in the cyber cafe.

For those who have been following this blog, I thank them from the bottom of my heart, but please note that the only Umno leader whom I have been singing praises is Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman....and this guy Ghani is not paying me anything for it. He does not know who I am and I am not working for him or expecting anything from him. I am praising him for free, simply because he is truly one of the good guys in BN.

Ok, some people in the opposing Johor Umno camps, who wanted their own guy as the new MB  may want to vomit whatever they had eaten this morning after reading what I wrote above. Sorry guys. I am still of the opinion that the reality is, if Ghani goes after the coming GE, your guy who replace him will vomit blood trying to do what Ghani had done so far for Johor.

Do you all think it is easy to maintain this BN bastion? I had listed the requirements to be a Johor MB here -
1. To administer the State Government
2. To command the Johor Umno warlords
3. To earn the respect of the BN component parties
4. To maintain BN dominance over the opposition in Johor.
5. To have a good working relationship with the Johor palace
6. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - To resist the temptation of enriching oneself and cronies by plundering Johor's riches.

Most of the new Johor MB candidates, I believe, will not be able to satisfy the most important requirement, that is to resist the temptation to enrich oneself and not using the MB position to strengthen one's personal political position at the expense of Johor Umno's unity.

If you still think I am bullshitting about Ghani, go and ask the most experienced and reputedly honest of all the Johor Umno warlords - Datuk Shahrir Samad. Ask him to name one guy among his peers or juniors who can become the new Johor MB.

Fortress Johor Part 3 : BN's Achilles' heel

Fortress Johor Part 3 : BN's Achilles' heel

In the second instalment of this series of articles on Johor, we got a glimpse of how Johor BN under the stewardship of its chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman would handle the coming onslaught of the Pakatan hordes in the coming general election.

The battle plan seems solid as proven by the success in the Tenang by-election.

However, as with everything else in life, things are not perfect.

Among the biggest problems faced by Johor BN in executing its plan is the apparent selfishness of some of its leaders (in this case, those from Umno) who only care about their own short-term political survival rather than ensuring the continuity of the coalition's dominance in the State.

On another front, the stupidity of the Johor Pas leadership who are allowing themselves to be manipulated by their Pakatan partners (especially DAP) is another major concern as it could break the Malay vote bank of Johor BN.

Let us not even get into the details of what is happening, or rather what is not very happening in MCA and Gerakan. I will deal with that in other pre-GE series on Johor.

Before I really start, here are the statistics on the balance of power in Johor :
Parliamentary seats :
BN - 25
Pakatan -1 (DAP - Bakri)
State seats :
BN - 50
Pakatan - 6 (Dap 4 - Skudai, Senai, Mengkibol, Bentayan; Pas 2 - Sungai Abong, Maharani, PKR 0)

THE MUAR DEBACLE IN 2008

Despite claims by opposition figures that Johor is ripe for the picking, the reality on the ground is not so clear-cut.  PAS has been trying to convince themselves that they can take on Umno in Malay-majority seats, but in truth they have been relegated to the role of breaking Malay solidarity in Johor to enable DAP and PKR to win valuable Johor parliamentary seats.

Case in point, in the fight for Muar-Maharani-Sungai Balang, if the Umno candidates Datuk Mohd Ismail Mohd Shah for Maharani (53% Malay voters), and Dr Robia Kosai for Sungai Balang (71% Malay voters) had not been so stupid as to have their factions sabotaging each other during the 2008 campaign, the likelihood of PAS winning Maharani would have been extremely slim if not impossible.  Actually, Sungai Balang remained an Umno seat by virtue of it having a larger proportion of Malay voters than Maharani.  It can therefore be concluded that Umno gave away Maharani to PAS in 2008, which in football terms would be an "own goal".

My personal assessment is, it would be stupidity in the extreme if Umno were to put these two up as candidates again in the next General Election, regardless of quota requirements or whatnots, as they have proven themselves to be morons of the highest order.  Word on the ground is, if Dr Robia is Umno candidate again in the coming election, Malik Mohd Diah (of PAS) may become the new ADUN for Sungai Balang.  So if Umno is really going to field winnable candidates in the coming GE, they already knew whom not to field in Sungai Balang.

CRUCIAL BATTLEGROUNDS OF SOUTHERN JOHOR

However, what is happening further down south in the Kulai and Gelang Patah parliamentary constituencies is far more interesting, where we can clearly see how the fight for Johor will unfold in the coming months.  The recent fight between DAP and PKR over the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat was reported in the press, signifying the first public signs of cracks within the opposition pact in Johor.  However, more interestingly, is that it reflects the level of confidence the opposition pact have about winning both Kulai and Gelang Patah in the next General Election.

GELANG PATAH

Gelang Patah, which is where the seat of power of Johor at Kota Iskandar is located was PKR's battleground in 2004 and 2008, and they had been putting everything into wresting Gelang Patah from BN in the next GE, with their AMK virtually setting up camp and operating out of this constituency.  In 2004, they didn't do too well, garnering a measly 9,335 votes, or 18% of total turnout.  In contrast, they did very well in 2008, with their candidate getting 41% of total votes, a significant increase from their previous effort, largely thanks to PAS supporters.  If the trend of dwindling support for BN continues to the present, the likelihood of BN losing the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat is very real, thanks to the continuous hard work of PAS members and Umno's complacency there.

Support for PAS in Nusajaya state seat in the 12th GE was more than double that of the 2004 GE.  It has been observed that once PAS got you, they rarely let you go, so I expect the support they got in 2008 will not be reduced by much if at all.  The surge in support for PKR is largely due to Malay votes as the mainly Chinese Skudai voters were overwhelmingly for DAP in the Skudai state seat but didn't give similar support to PKR for the parliamentary seat.

Even though it is unlikely that PAS would win in Nusajaya, they have done their work well in that particular constituency to split the Malay vote and will probably be instrumental in delivering the Gelang Patah seat to the opposition pact, regardless of it being DAP or PKR.

KULAI

Meanwhile, the fragmentation of Kulai Umno is apparent, while MCA has yet to recover from their internal strife in this Chinese-majority constituency.  With Chinese representing almost 60% of its constituents, the role of MCA and Gerakan in reversing the trend of dwindling support in Kulai will be crucial.  MCA has not been very successful in attracting younger or new voters as reflected by a recent public event at a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina in Senai where even the attending NGOs were just MCA-led NGOs.

Unless the infractious behaviour of Umno warlords in Kulai is contained, the trend of dwindling Malay support for Umno will eventually contribute towards the loss of the Kulai parliamentary seat despite it retaining the Bukit Permai state seat.  While the divisional leadership is in a state of extreme complacency, in-fighting occurs at all levels and the grassroots machinery has yet to be fully mobilised.  Only the Wanita wing seems to be working on the ground, with the Wanita wings of MCA and Gerakan also doing their part.  If not for the internal strife within DAP and between DAP and PKR, this situation would have been fully exploited by DAP to expand its influence and strengthen their grassroots support.

For the coming GE, Dr Boo Cheng Hou, the DAP representative for Skudai, would have preferred to stay and fight for Gelang Patah by swapping another seat with PKR, but it looks like he has to set his sights on Kulai instead to further his political career.  This means he will have to depend on the Bukit Permai PAS supporters to reduce BN's Malay support in the only Malay majority state constituency within Kulai and it looks PAS will deliver despite them not likely to win the Bukit Permai seat themselves.

Assuming that the opposition assessment of having more than 80% of Chinese and Indian support is true, PKR will win in Gelang Patah and DAP will win in Kulai if PAS members continue to do well in reducing BN's Malay support in these two constituencies with their usual passion (and blind devotion to party rhetoric).

CONCLUSION
 
 That means PAS will be able to deliver two parliamentary seats to the opposition pact without winning a single seat themselves.

The Gelang Patah and Kulai strategy will likely be adopted by DAP in other constituencies with similar ethnic composition (which is most of urban Johor) to ensure that they can capture up to 5 parliamentary seats and 12 state seats in Johor.  PKR may be able to gain a parliamentary seat and 3 state seats.  It would be wise for BN to contain opposition activities in Tebrau, Pulai, Pasir Gudang, Labis, and Segamat in addition to Kluang, Bakri, Kulai and Gelang Patah.  These parliamentary seats are vulnerable for Johor BN.

Despite all these, the Johor BN election machinery, under the leadership of Ghani, are currently being mobilised to ensure that the formula first deployed in the Tenang by-election will be applied in full force for a clean sweep of both state and parliamentary seats in Johor.  If done right, this will ensure that Malay support for BN will continue to grow to 70-80%, and may reach 90% in areas where Umno perform well at grassroots level in the past few years.

With the resurgence of Umno and MIC, and if they do not sabotage each other like the two moronic Umno candidates of 2008 did in Muar, it is not likely that PAS will retain either Sungai Abong or Maharani.  Unless BN really mess up, PAS will not win any of their Malay-majority seats either.

 However, PAS will continue to play a significant role in reducing Malay support for BN, and this factor is something BN, and more specifically Umno, will have to take care of.

With MCA and Gerakan still in defunct mode, it will be up to Umno, with the help of MIC, PPP and other Indian-based entities within BN to ensure the coalition's victory in Johor.  Unless MCA and Gerakan wake up from their slumber, they will find themselves without a single  win in Johor - a worrying prospect indeed.

Fortress Johor Part 2 : Ghani's Bru

Fortress Johor Part 2 : Ghani's Bru

As I wrote earlier, Johor MB Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is likely to retire from politics after the next general election.

That is, I believe, if the PM will let him do so. Najib is after all hard pressed to have all his best men in place for the election and after.

Honestly, how many of these few good men does Najib have? How many are there who are truely free from allegations or perception of corruption? How many have the stature and pedigree to lead the much battered Umno? Bear in mind, after the disastrous Pak Lah administration, and the ferocious attacks by Pakatan bloggers and portals pre and post 2008 general election, not many Umno leaders are left unscathed.

Ghani is actually an anomaly. He has more or less been spared from these attacks by the Pakatan people simply because there is not much they can run him down with. His administration of the State has been tip top - well, not perfect but definitely among, or in my opinion, the best in the country. His personal record is equally immaculate. However, Ghani is actually under attack from within Umno. It is not that he has made many enemies among his peers but his position as Johor MB is the envy of many. It is so tempting because Johor remains as a stronghold of not just Umno but BN as a whole. Johor is also a rich State. The MB seat is simply too tempting to have and that is why so many want it.

What many failed to realise is that Johor is what it is, not due to accident. It is an Umno and BN stronghold not because it is the birth place of Umno. Malays, after all, only make up between 52 and 55 per cent of the population, which is hardly an overwhelming majority. The truth is, a lot of sincere hard work and sacrifices were put in by leaders like Ghani to build the foundation for the coalition's dominance in the State.

This series of articles on Johor is meant to shed light on why the State remains with BN even in the most trying of general elections. These are stories of how putting the interests of the party ahead of one's self is paramount in the struggle for "AGAMA, BANGSA dan TANAHAIR".

For the coming general election, let us see what Ghani has in store for Umno and BN.

The Tenang by-election earlier this year is a glimpse of how Johor BN mobilised its machinery and how it managed to accurately predict the outcome of the by-election days earlier.

It also gave Johor BN an opportunity to test out its new formula, and provided its grassroots and divisional leaders experience of this new "grassroots leadership" formula.

Objectives going into the Tenang by-election:

1.   Win with a bigger majority than the 2008 election
After the disastrous 12th GE, Johor BN needed a convincing win to boost the morale of party "troopers" on the ground.  The win in Tenang, where Malay constituents represent less than 50% of the total voter population (representative of much of Johor) means it will be a key indicator of how Johor will fare in the next GE.

2.   Empower "Ketua Peti Undi" to lead the campaigning at their own localities
They know their territories and the local sentiments far better than anyone else, so they are given the authority and responsibility to conduct the best winning strategies at their own Peti Undi with tactical support being provided by Johor BN leadership.

3.   Expose higher ranking party members to working with local leadership
Divisional Heads and their teams were fostered to peti-peti undi, but they were subject to the leadership of the local Ketua Peti Undi.  External help was welcomed, but the same rule applies, they must defer to local leadership and the appointed Ketua Peti Undi.  It provided Johor Divisional Heads with first-hand experience in working hand-in-hand with grassroots leadership and localised campaigning.

At the forefront of campaigning, Ghani himself was providing a very low-key, hands-on approach,  personally going around assessing the situation at the peti-peti undi, his very presence motivating these grassroots men and women to strive for better results.  Morale was high.  There wasn't any political posturing, hardly any large-scale (translated as expensive) "ceramah" sessions, and minimal intervention from "outsiders" to campaign activities.  The focus was entirely on managing the voters perception as opposed to influencing national perception, that there was hardly anything interesting to report in the national dailies other than the foibles of opposition figures.

The entire by-election was such a low-key event for BN that there were political analysts, not familiar with the ways of Johor BN and its chief, who began to opine that BN Johor was lethargic and the campaign director was ineffective, i.e. "BAD, BAD CHOICE, Mr Prime Minister".

The outcome, however, speaks for itself (as in IN YOUR FACE, DOUBTERS!!).  As far as Johor BN is concerned, it was Mission Accomplished.

I have been to many post-2008 by-elections, and my observations have led me to conclude that the Tenang by-election is where BN spent the least amount of money, and yet delivered one of the best results, if not the best, to date.

What was amazing was that party workers on the ground lamented that the majority of 3,707 won by BN could have been higher had it not been for the massive flood on voting day.

NOTES:
Ethnic Composition in Tenang by-election:
    Malay        47%
   Chinese      39%
   Indian        12%
   Other          2%
Voter turnout : 67%
BN : 6,699 votes
PAS: 2,992 votes
Majority: 3,707

Fortress Johor - Part 1 : A new MB?

Fortress Johor - Part 1 : A new MB?

UPDATED

I would like to thanks Sinar Harian for picking up on this humble posting of mine.
However I believe the newspaper had misinterpreted some of what I wrote.
Just to set the record straight, these are the mistakes and the actual sentences that I wrote :

1. What Sinar Harian wrote :
"Bigcat turut melampirkan kenyataan bekas ahli akademik yang bertegas mahu Abdul Ghani membuka jalan kepada pemimpin muda bagi menerajui Johor kerana beliau dilihat sebagai sudah tidak sesuai untuk meneruskan khidmatnya sebagai Menteri Besar."
- What I actually wrote
  "The no-nonsense former academician was said to be too old for the job and should make way for younger leaders."
2. What Sinar Harian wrote :
"Menurut blogger tersebut, keadaan yang berlaku itu sekali gus menimbulkan fitnah ke atas Abdul Ghani oleh pesaing-pesaing politiknya dan beliau tampil menafikan tohmahan dilemparkan dengan berterus terang mahu menerajui Johor sebagai Menteri Besar."
- What I actually wrote :
  "Ghani had denied that he had wanted to continue as Menteri Besar. He was said to have been frustrated when he was made known of the switch as he felt he could do more for the country at the Federal level."

To Sinar Harian editor Farush Khan - Thanks for highlighting my posting, but please get your reporters to improve their translation. Cheers.

ORIGINAL POSTING

Almost everyone in Johor's political circle have now concluded that Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is ending his tenure as Johor Menteri Besar after the next general election.
  Ghani, 64 has after all held the post since March 1995, making him the longest serving Johor Menteri Besar ever.
  The no-nonsense former academician was said to be too old for the job and should make way for younger leaders.

  Nonetheless, this speculation on Ghani is not new as the same thing happened in the run-up of the past two general elections.

2004 GENERAL ELECTION
  On the day BN announced its candidates which was a day before nomination day, Ghani was listed to contest the Ledang parliamentary seat, effectively paving his way to Federal level.
  Ghani's supposed departure from Johor was actually part of a plan by the then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah), or more accurately that of "The Fourth Floor Boys" to place their own people to run Johor which is one of the richest State in the country.
  To replace Ghani was Mohamed Khaled Nordin who was initially listed to contest the State seat of Tiram.
  This is the picture of Ghani holding up Khaled's hand as a gesture of his support for the latter at his official residence Saujana on that day -

  Later that night, however, it was made known that Ghani was switched back to contest the Serom state seat while Khaled was to contest the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat.

  Ghani then became a target of slander by his political rivals, especially within Johor Umno, who accused him of influencing the Sultan of Johor at that time, Sultan Iskandar, to interfere so that he can stay as Menteri Besar. The accusation was easy to believe as Ghani was indeed very close with the Sultan, which was why he was conferred the prestigious Darjah Kerabat which is rarely given to a commoner. That was also the reason why Ghani is using the title Datuk instead of the "higher" titles such as Datuk Seri or Tan Seri. He had declined many offers of titles which may be deemed to be of higher status than the one given by the Johor Sultan.

  Ghani had denied that he had wanted to continue as Menteri Besar. He was said to have been frustrated when he was made known of the switch as he felt he could do more for the country at the Federal level.

2008 GENERAL ELECTION
  About two weeks before the general election, Pak Lah had sought an audience with Sultan Iskandar. It was widely believed that the purpose of the audience was to propose a new Johor Menteri Besar. Khaled was again the candidate.
 This was said to be another attempt by the Fourth Floor Boys to place "their people" in Johor which at that time appeared to have an even bigger potential as the gold pot of their ambitions following the setting-up of Iskandar Malaysia two years earlier.
   Almost everyone who was supposed to be "in the know"  were at that time very certain that Ghani's tenure as Menteri Besar was about to end.
  The plan however did not work out as when the list of BN candidates was announced, Ghani was still placed in Serom and remain as the menteri besar.
  An occasion at the Istana Bukit Serene a few days before the general election was however worthy to be noted.
  According to what was spoken along the corridors of power in Johor, Sultan Iskandar had called Ghani to the palace and presented the Menteri Besar with one of his own rings and told him that he must take care of Johor for as long as it takes for him to do it.

THE PRESENT
  Ghani is at the moment fine tuning the Johor BN election machinery by personally going to voting areas, particularly those classified as high risk. Today he is in the Gelang Patah parliamentary area.
  He had made it known to his close aides that his only wish now is to lead Johor BN to possibly a clean sweep victory in the coming general election. He said such a win will not be easy but not impossible to achive.
  As for the speculation that this is his last term as Menteri Besar, Ghani had openly told several Johor-based journalists that he is indeed preparing for his retirement.
  After the recent birth of his first grandchild, Ghani, who is a devoted family man seems to be very contented with his life.
  Never known as a glamour seeker, he quietly goes about his work as Menteri Besar and Johor BN chairman and this could be observed in his handling of the Tenang by-elections earlier this year.
  He did very well as the BN campaign director and secure the relatively huge 3,700 majority victory without having to resort to flashy and costly campaigning tactics.
  The Tenang by-election was recognised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the most successful among the latest string of BN by-election victories because of the manner Ghani handled the election machinery and the fact that more than 40 per cent of Tenang voters are Chinese, who are supposedly to be mostly hostile to BN.
  As for his relationship with Sultan Ibrahim, it is noted that Ghani meet the Sultan every week after the exco meeting to brief the Ruler on the latest development of the State. The Sultan and Menteri Besar appear to enjoy a cordial relationship.
. 



THE CANDIDATES
These are the leading candidates to replace Ghani as Johor Menteri Besar :


1. Mohamed Khaled Nordin

Main strength - Well educated and politically polished as well as perceived by many quarters as having the blessing of Sultan Ibrahim, when the Sultan graced his recent Hari Raya open house in Pasir Gudang.
Main weakness - Had twice failed to take over the Menteri Besar post from Ghani and being surrounded by ambitious young aides ala the Fourth Floor Boys.


2. Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad

Main strength - Currently is Ghani's deputy as Johor Umno chief.
Main weakness - Was said to lack the stature to command respect of the fearsome Johor Umno warlords.

3. Nur Jazlan Mohamed
 
Main strength - Considered to be capable of injecting some youthful ideas into the State administration.
Main weakness - Considered by many to be too pro-Singapore and can't even seems able to have full control of his Pulai Umno division which he "inherited" from his late father Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat.

4. Abdul Aziz Kaprawi

Main strength - Considered to be the Najib's man in the Johor executive council.
Main weakness - Lack the stature, just like Latiff and not so fluent in English.

CONCLUSION
Talks of his retirement would not deter Ghani from leading Johor BN to another major victory in the coming general election. This was proven in the Tenang by-election.
  After being the Menteri Besar of Johor for the past 16 years, Ghani does not seems burdened by the needs to preserve his position. This was proven by his way of handling the Johor Umno warlords.
  His most important approach as a State Umno liasion chief is his policy of not trying to interfere with the squabbling for positions at the divisional and branches level by placing his own men there as what was practiced by other State leaders to preserve their position. This prevents Johor Umno from being too fractious when facing the opposition.
  Ghani does not also seems interested to garner supports from outside Johor to strengthen his personal position in Umno at the Federal level. This was evident in his handling of the Tenang by-election where he refused to let Umno machinery from outside the State from interfering with the works already in place to ensure a comfortable BN's victory.

  Nonetheless, my personal opinion on this is that Ghani is indeed going to retire from politics after the coming general election. He will do his best to secure a big BN win in Johor in the election and then gracefully make his exit. My bet is that he will go back to being an educationist as that was his passion before entering politics.  
   Unfortunately, his retirement in my opinion will most severely weaken Johor BN as it would not be easy to find someone else who are up to these main tasks of  a Johor Menteri Besar:
1. To administer the State Government
2. To command the Johor Umno warlords
3. To earn the respect of the BN component parties
4. To maintain BN dominance over the opposition in Johor.
5. To have a good working relationship with the Johor palace
6. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - To resist the temptation of enriching oneself and cronies by plundering Johor's riches.

Guan Eng's fatal mistake

Guan Eng's fatal mistake

Nope, its not because he got bad advisers or can't resist opening his big mouth or can't contain his big kiasu ego.
Its because he picks up a fight with this guy
.

You don't know who is this guy?
Ok, read this NST Johor Streets article which was published early last year (taken without permission).

Johor has the coolest menteri besar

Syed Umar Ariff
2010/03/31 MB-man, MB-man, Does whatever a menteri besar can
Stretched a hand, saved a man,
Catches him just in time
Look Out!
Here comes the MB-man!

Is he strong?
Listen bro,
He knows aikido!
Take a look overhead
Hey, there!
There goes the MB-man!

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman (centre) watching a lion dance performance at the Chingay festival in Jalan Wong Ah Fook.

That is a super hero tribute to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

It is a song sampled after the classic Spiderman's theme song made popular decades ago.

I'm no apple-polisher but after seeing Ghani save Johor Education director Sufaat Tumin from falling off a stage after an oopsy-daisy turn gone wrong at a function a couple months back, I realised that the menteri besar may be the country's very own Steven Seagal.
Come to think of it, may be it is true. Take a closer look at Ghani and you will realise that he resembles the Hollywood action star, save for the ponytail.

He speaks softly as Seagal too.

The video of him saving Sufaat from an embarrassing moment made the rounds on Facebook for all to see.

Not a moment for Sufaat to be in the spotlight but it was something memorable for everyone.

It was a moment for Johoreans to realise that their menteri besar has been keeping his martial skills in check. He's that cool.

I was there during the incident. Ghani had just presented a trophy to Sufaat for the creative design of the latter's department website when suddenly Sufaat somehow made a wrong turn and tripped.

With his puffy side-parted hairstyle turning into a bouffant amidst the swirl and twist he made on stage as he was falling, the crowd gasped in astonishment as Ghani held Sufaat from falling with only just a grab to the arm.

Sufaat, obviously surprised and embarrassed by the incident, thanked Ghani.

However, Sufaat had yet to get his balance right.

As soon as Ghani let go of his arm, Sufaat immediately began to stumble again.

The menteri besar, who seem to be anticipating the worst, once again reached out to Sufaat and kept him upright.

Ghani gave a a look of assurance to Sufaat, who was again obviously surprised by the lightning-quick reflex of Ghani.

If Ghani were to be a real superhero, his name would have been MB-man or Light-Ni, for his renowned speed.

And as expected, the crowd went all "Oooohhhh!" and "Aaahhhhhh!" over the incident.

Seriously Johoreans, your menteri besar is perhaps the fittest of all menteris besar in the country.

If you really think about it, the rest -- save for the Negri Sembilan menteri besar -- are old or not really known for their prowess in sports or martial arts.

Another unexpected showcase of his physical prowess was during the state-level Chingay celebration in Jalan Wong Ah Fook.

As one of the celebration's highlights, the lion dancers, after hopping on the poles, threw several oranges on stage where Ghani and other dignitaries were seated.

The other VIPs were having trouble grabbing the oranges, but not Ghani; he was like a zen kung-fu grandmaster being tested of his skills by mere kung-fu apprentices.

It seemed that Ghani could anticipate where the oranges would be thrown, despite the oranges' random trajectory set by the lion dancers.

Not one of the oranges could escape his kung-fu iron grip!

And of course, the crowd of more than 20,000 went all "Oooohhhh!" and "Aaahhhhhh!" over his skills.

However the next day, the 63-year-old was taken to the Johor Specialist Hospital for an outpatient treatment after complaining of extreme fatigue during a game of golf.

It seems that Ghani may have strained himself during the Chingay festival the night before.

The rakyat were worried, judging from the telephone calls made to media as soon as the news broke out.

Of course, Ghani is after all human. But at least, from another point of view, he may have some superhuman skills.
ends

OK OK, I am kidding, this is the real picture of Ghani Othman.

This picture was taken when Ghani was informed that Guan Eng had swallowed his bait and left sprawling in the longkang....seriously.