Masih Tak Serik...

Sekarang Saluran Informasi bukan lagi dibawah kawalan UMNO. Mungkin kita boleh bermimpi dan menganggap bahawa memegang Utusan atau TV3 atau The Star sudah cukup untuk mengawal penyebaran berita, tetapi realitiya adalah UMNO kini semakin kalah dalam perang informasi.

Apabila membaca kenyataan sebegini, mungkin ada yang cetek pemikiran menganggap dengan mengawal saluran media, kita boleh mengawal informasi dan seterusnya kembali mengawal pengundi.

Tetapi sejauh manakah kita dapat mengawal saluran pada zaman moden ini? 10 tahun lalu hanya segelintir masyarakat yang mampu memiliki telefon bimbit. Sekarang, hampir 90% daripada populasi Malaysia memiliki perkhidmatan tersebut. Dengan hanya kos 1 sen untuk satu SMS, seseorang individu boleh menyebarkan informasi dengan luas dan pantas.

Jadi isunya bukanlah mengawal saluran media, kerana pada zahirnya ianya sudah tidak boleh dikawal lagi. Apabila saluran media tidak boleh dikawal, maka semua cerita boleh dikongsi. Mercedes yang dibawa bukan sahaja diketahui 10 orang, tetapi ribuan orang hasil penyampaian cerita dan berita yang tiada sempadan.

Bila sudah menyedari perkara sebegini, kita haruslah bersedia untuk dinilai oleh orang ramai, bukan setakat pengundi di kampung yang kita berkempen sahaja. Kempen kita di Kampung X akan diketahui pembaca blog di Kuala Lumpur pada keesokan hari.

Sogokan yang dahulunya menjanjikan kemenangan kini tidak lagi diambil kisah pengundi. Sebaliknya kredibiliti kita sebagai sebuah parti politik juga dicerca kerana semua yang kita lakukan direkod dan disebarkan untuk pengetahuan umum.

Baca sahaja dua berita di bawah ini untuk melihat bagaimana kita semakin kalah perang psikologi memenangi hati pengundi. Kalau berani, bacalah komen-komen pembaca sekali...

_______________________________

Now Everyone Can Fly...with Selangor Exco

By Neville Spykerman

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and his exco members took frugality to new heights by flying to and from Alor Setar with Air Asia.

The Selangor delegation had flown to Kedah to attend the conference of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) chief ministers and leaders on Sunday and were spotted by The Malaysian Insider at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport waiting to board the return flight this morning.

With the Selangor Menteri Besar were exco members Datuk Dr Hassan Ali, Teresa Kok, Elizabeth Wong, Yaakob Sapari, Khalid's political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Subang Member of Parliament Sivarasa Rasiah.

The group was seated at the boarding lounge, with other passengers waiting to board Air Asia flight Ak6347 to Kuala Lumpur, with no fanfare or fuss.

So unassuming was Khalid, dressed casually in a black-and-red chequered shirt and blue slacks, that most passengers did not realise he was the Selangor MB.

Nik Nazmi said although they were flying with the low-cost carrier, the state government had at least paid for express boarding for them.

However this came to nought as they were left at the end of the queue while other passengers rushed to board first.

The frugal attitude of the state government at these time of economic uncertainties will surely endear these leaders to the people, while bringing a smile to the face of Air Asia boss, Datuk Tony Fernandes.

________________________________________

Poll watchdog howls foul over 'vote-buying'

Jan 19, 09 3:38pm

An election watchdog today claimed that vote-buying was prevalent in the run-up to Saturday's Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election. MCPX The National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) also highlighted the abuse of government machinery and complained about the overwhelming presence of police personnel. NIEI chairperson Yunus Ali, in lamenting that corruption had become institutionalised, said voters in Kuala Terengganu were given cash as inducements. "RM300 and RM250 goodwill money were given to adults and youths respectively, while Chinese voters received RM300 'ang pow' for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations," he said in a statement. "Even journalists were not spared. A day before polling, journalists at the media centre were given RM300 each. Two weeks earlier, the journalists were given raincoats worth RM98," he added. Following a police report by two journalists, Barisan Nasional candidate Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh denied having anything to do with the matter. In addition, Yunus said there was also an avalanche of "indirect bribes" to fish for votes. (see chart) As for the abuse of government machinery, the watchdog stated, among others, the use of the Menteri Besar's office and Public Works Department vehicles for a ground-breaking ceremony. Yunus also cited Kuala Terengganu mayor and election returning officer Mat Razali Kassim for allegedly threatening his staff to vote for BN. Mat Razali later resigned as returning officer over the controversy. Who is paying? Yunus also pointed out that numerous ministries, ministers and state leaders, both from Barisan Nasional and the opposition, were involved in the campaign. "The question is, on whose expense were they campaigning in Kuala Terengganu?" he asked. Meanwhile, Yunus said corruption was also seen in the form of free newspapers being distributed to the people and the number of concerts being held. "PAS was also found to have violated election ethics by giving out free wheelchairs, free haircuts as well as free consultation with a homeopathy specialist," he added. On the overwhelming police presence, Yunus said this gave the impression that the area was a war zone and left the people feeling uneasy over the massive deployment. Calling for an end to corrupt practices, he said: "The Election Act must be amended to prevent corruption as a means to purchase votes." "Kuala Terengganu voters have displayed their maturity, with the majority proving they will not fall for such candies," he added. BN failed to retain the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat when its candidate lost to Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut of PAS by 2,631 votes while independent candidate Azharudin Mamat @ Adam polled 193 votes to lose his deposit.

____________________________________________________________________

Bila la kita nak berubah?

PENGUMUMAN: Bagi Pemuda UMNO Damansara Utama, sila hubungi Ketua Pemuda, saudara Fauwazz sekiranya anak anda mendapat sekurang-kurang 4 A dalam UPSR atau 6 A dalam PMR.