Election boycott plan all in tatters ?

IT appears to be all in tatters now, the opposition’s plan to boycott elections.

The grand proposition got off to a miserable start to speak of when the Batu Talam by-election a fortnight ago recorded a voter turnout of more than 67 per cent — high under the circumstances — in the face of a direct spurn by the main opposition parties and their calls for voters to snub the whole process as well.

The strategy, prompted by dissatisfaction over several provisions in the election laws and processes, initially was to let Batu Talam speak so that the momentum of the boycott would grow and eventually put pressure on the Election Commission.

But it has lost steam, first as a result of the Batu Talam itself and the numbers that showed.
Then, hardly had the dust settled and even when the boycott talk was still very much in the air, the chinks in the whole design began to show. DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat subtly declared that they would together launch a blitz to capture Penang from Barisan Nasional in the next election.
And on Saturday, Keadilan deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali was even more direct, saying opposition parties do not have to boycott the general election unless there is a "mood" change among the people.

He said Malaysians still believed in having election as a way to choose a government.
"We have to be cautious before deciding to boycott it (election), especially in the general election," he was quoted by Bernama as saying after a national roundtable conference on democracy and election in Kuala Lumpur which was also attended by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

This latest sentiment only serves to confirm that the opposition was never serious in wanting to stay away completely from elections. It also appears to add strength to the anticipated flip-flop following signs that Pas leaders were getting unsure about elections and whether to boycott.
Last week, for instance, Pas central information chief Ahmad Awang said the party was still in two minds about whether to go ahead with boycott plans for all future elections although a boycott campaign through ceramah and roadshows would continue in the meantime.
In the same breath, however, he conceded that Pas was ready to face the situation whichever way the party decides.

It all added to the tottering Pas position because while the party was talking about a serious boycott, it is also quietly trying to garner more support, especially from non-Malays, to strengthen its position, presumably and logically to do well in the next general election.
Just look at the irony. In two days’ time, Pas will launch its Indian supporters club in the hope that it would be seen as a multiracial party.

The launch, to be carried out by party vice-president Mohamad Sabu at the Pas headquarters in Taman Melewar, will once again signal Pas’ seriousness in capturing the votes, having already set up Chinese supporters’ wings in Kelantan, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
It is understood that many of the Pas leaders were confident of getting support from the Indians, especially in Perak.
Boycott? What boycott?


Who is the most stressed out among us?

A NEWS report last week said that one in five Malaysians believe their life is highly stressful and the difficulty in balancing life with work was making the situation worse.

The report, based on a survey by global market intelligence company Synovate on 10,000 peninsular Malay- sians, found that 28 per cent of the Chinese respondents had been feeling the strain compared with 22 per cent of Indians and 18 per cent Malays.

That’s not a surprise really. Every other person you meet these days have the tendency to describe their jobs or their lives as stressful.

But which do you think is the most stressful job in Malaysia today? Or who is the most stressed out Malaysian?

So many fit the bill I am sure — doctors in the emergency rooms, the Chief Secretary to the government (especially as a result of pressure on the delivery system) and lawyers handling certain high-profile cases must be going through some of the most punishing routines anyone would know.

But I think I will not be far off to say that the Attorney-General holds one of the most stressful jobs in the country.

Tan Sri Gani Abdul Patail’s broadest job spec is as principal legal adviser to the Malaysian government and, because of that, everything that needs a legal solution seems to fall on his lap.
The A-G takes charge of many things. For instance, he ultimately decides whether or not to prosecute a particular criminal case, which could prove daunting if there has already been great public attention on the case.

Then he or his office would land directly in the line of fire if cases get thrown out by the court — more so if these are high-profile cases.

The A-G is also responsible for drafting at least some of the Bills debated in Parliament.
And, as in some controversial cases when the Bills get rejected, it is he again who will have to redraft.

On top of all these, the A-G also has to study the various free trade agreements that Malaysia is negotiating with other countries like the controversial US-Malaysia one, likely to give him a headache.

Not far behind the A-G, I think would be the team of lawyers handling this particular high-profile case. I shall not venture deeper into this as I don’t want to be sued or cited for contempt and and land up in jail.

Well, that makes a newspaper editor’s job equally stressful, doesn’t it?
(NST-Syed Nadzri)


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