Thesun 2009-05-25 Page03 All Odds Against Independents

theSun

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| MONDAY MAY 25 2009

news without borders Pressure groups behind alcohol ban

All odds against independents Commentary by Himanshu Bhatt and Bernard Cheah [email protected]

by Maria J. Dass [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: The attempt to impose a ban on alcohol and beer in Selangor is a continuation of exertion from pressure groups that want restrictions on the sale of alcohol in the state, said Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim. He said the arguments raised, however, were based on personal perceptions that were not substantiated with concrete statistical evidence. Ng said this is an ongoing issue that has come to the forefront now because of the open dialogues being held to listen to views of the stakeholders. “The previous state administrations, too, had these discussions and had faced the same issue, but the difference is that discussions were held behind closed doors,” he said. “For the first time in history we are holding an open dialogue involving Muslim groups, assemblymen, executive councillors, breweries, alcohol dealers associations, hypermarkets, retail outlets, Muslims, non-Muslims, alcohol consumers and non-consumers,” he said. “Everyone gets to voice their views and differences in an open forum,” Ng said. The media was also allowed to attend the session. Ng said the fact remains that the arguments put forward to paint a bad picture of alcohol consumers and the ills caused by the sale of alcohol have not been substantiated by statistics and solid figures. “The arguments raised were all on estimations, views and perceptions, not solid statistics that can convince us of the so-called problems attributed to alcohol consumption,” he said. “We cannot just agree to make changes based on someone’s views or perception.” Ng said the state executive council will discuss the issue and solutions at its next meeting on Wednesday. The state is expected to come up with guidelines on the matter as some local authorities have been imposing a ban on the sale of alcohol including beers and refused renewal of licences to sell alcohol at their whims and fancies. “To me the issue of a total ban is out of the question,” said Ng who spoke at the dialogue about the need for good parenting and religious foundation for those who are not supposed to consume alcohol so that they are not easily enticed. In late 2002, the former state administration attempted to ban beer advertisements in eateries and family oriented restaurants. The reason given was the widespread ads were giving tourists an impression that the country was a haven for boozers. This was seen by many as a bid to outdo PAS in the exertion of Islamic principles in the state. The move received much criticism and protest from MCA and DAP which represented the Chinese and non-Muslim community who make up 46% of the state’s population. This time around the issue of the sale of alcoholic drinks including beer which is listed as a beverage by retail outlets and 24-hour stores in areas deemed to have a Muslim majority population has become an issue with Muslim groups. Their argument is that Muslim staff employed by retail outlets like 7-Eleven are made to sell alcohol to customers which goes against the syariah laws. Concerns were also raised about underaged and Muslim patrons being enticed by the availability of alcohol – an ill that some at the dialogue argued should be addressed by the inculcation of strong spirituality and religious values, instead of infringing on the rights of other communities.

Managers losing sleep over economy pg 6

SEBERANG PERAI: Earlier last month, on polling day for the Bukit Selambau state by-election, a record number of 13 independent candidates watched sullenly as results were announced. Except for two candidates, none managed to garner even 100 votes, getting only double digits. Yet some of these independents had earlier swaggered that they had the means to upset candidates from giants Barisan Nasional (BN) and the PKR backed by Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Yesterday, three independent candidates have been confirmed for the upcoming Penanti state by-election in Penang, alongside PKR’s Mansor Othman. The BN has decided not to contest. The number could have been higher had a fourth independent aspirant not been disqualified by the Election Commission (EC) on technical grounds. One may be forgiven for

wondering if these independents will also end up as “doubledigit” losers come polling day on May 31. The odds stacked against the trio are so high that some quarters see their participation as being an encumbrance and an unnecessary waste of time and resources. Indeed, two of them – factory manager Nai Khan Ari, 41, and fledgling Parti Iman SeMalaysia (PIS) head Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42 – have admitted they do not stand a chance of winning, and are participating to draw attention to their voices. Their involvement is also seen as a response to growing disillusionment towards the current state of party politics in Malaysia . Kamarul, incidentally, has been a “double-digit” loser before, having run as an independent in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-elections last month to get only 62 votes. Yet he is contesting again, openly announcing that it is a

good way to publicise the agenda of his new PIS party. The third independent, Aminah Abdullah, 56, who was a PKR state Wanita chief from 1999 to 2007 before quitting the party acrimoniously, has said she would reveal the bias practised by PR towards the people, in her campaign. She also said she would expose to the masses what is actually going on within PKR. But when asked on Saturday about her manifesto and strategy, she said she would have them in seven days’ time. “I need to rest first,” she said. Not surprisingly, the PR has labelled the independents as part of BN’s proxy war. “This is a new phenomenon where the BN is attacking us not through the dacing (scales) but by hiding behind independents,” said PKR strategic director Tian Chua. PKR has also had to deflect allegations that it has offered the independents bribes to abort their bids. “There is no logic to it,” said Tian Chua. “We SUNPIX BY MASRY CHE ANI

Nai Khan Ari (in purple shirt) receives blessings from his mother Soon Tin, 80, at his village in Kampung Telok Wang in Penanti, after having his nomination confirmed on Saturday.

categorically deny that we will engage in any form of bribery.” There is talk, however, that even if the independents are not backed by BN, they may get much more votes than expected. This is because BN supporters among the electorate may opt for the independents as a way to counter the PR. This is a situation PR cannot afford to have. It must emerge from the election by soundly thrashing the others and not be humiliated by a relatively narrow victory margin against the underdogs. On the other hand, BN has officially instructed its members not to vote for anyone who does not represent the coalition, a directive that may bring about lower voter turnout. But while it remains to be seen if the Penanti independents come out of this battle as double-digit (or even triple-digit) losers, a new trend seems set for more independents to participate in the country’s elections in the few years to come.

Siamese candidate wants to make his mark SEBERANG PERAI: The country’s first Siamese to run for a public election is hoping his ground-breaking initiative will spur more people from the community to come out to contest in the future. Nai Khan Ari, 41, who is running as an independent in the Penanti state by-election on May 31, said he expected more Siamese across the country to become more visible in pubic service. “This is a good opportunity for Siamese people to come out and represent the people of Malaysia,” the manufacturing company manager said at his Siamese community village of Kampung Telok Wang in Penanti, after having his nomination confirmed on Saturday. Nai, who is running on the symbol of the wau or traditional kite, said he had received many calls of encouragement from Siamese communities across the country since his intention to contest became public. Nai is not a novice in politics, having joined Gerakan in 2006. He resigned from the party the day after Barisan Nasional announced it would not contest the Penanti seat, so that he could run as independent. Fluent in Malay, Thai, Hokkien, Mandarin and English, he said he was inspired to run because of the “unhealthy political situation” in the country. Nai grew up in Kampung Telok Wang in Penanti which houses a community of about 200 that enjoys closely knit relationships with neighbouring Malay and Chinese villages.

PKR pledges full force in by-election SEBERANG PERAI: PKR has pledged to pursue in full force its campaign for the Penanti state by-election on May 31, including bringing national leaders of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties for ceramah, despite being the overwhelming favourite to win. PKR elections director Saifuddin Nasution said the by-election presented a stage to demonstrate the steady cooperation and understanding between PR component parties a year after the general election of March 8, 2008. “All elections are important. We are taking advantage of this campaign to inform the people and show them the solidarity in Pakatan

Rakyat all this while,” he said. “We want to prove that allegations of our friendship being only seasonal are not true,” he told the press at Yayasan Aman. PKR is being represented by its founding member and former state party chairman Mansor Othman, 58, who is a retired lecturer. Three independents were also confirmed by the Election Commission on nomination day last Saturday. They are factory manager and former Gerakan member Nai Khan Ari, 41, fledgling Parti Iman SeMalaysia head and businessman Kamarul Ramizu Idris, 42, and former Penang PKR wanita chief

Aminah Abdullah, 56. A fifth nominee, Capt (Rtd) Mohd Saberi Othman, 49, a businessman, was seen leaving the nomination centre in a huff after his application was rejected on technical grounds. Saifuddin said that PR is already set on the campaign for the Manek Urai state by-election in Kelantan, where its PAS assemblyman Ismail Yaacob recently passed away. “We are preparing to campaign there in full force even though the constituency is a PAS stronghold,” he said. Meanwhile, Mansor said he would reach out to the grassroots, especially in villages and religious communities, focussing on address-

ing poverty and growth of small and medium-scale industries. He also said that should he win, he would work towards democratising village development and security committees and mosque committees by helping to implement elections there. Mansor is slated to assume Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister (I) post if he wins. The Penanti seat became vacant when former DCM (I) Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of PKR resigned as assemblyman on April 16. According to the latest electoral list gazetted on April 24, the constituency has a total of 13,384 voters and 24 postal voters.