My Private Thoughts
Thinking Allowed

Let us recap what has happened:-

1. During the campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election won by Anwar, Ahmad Ismail was alleged to have said that the Chinese community were “immigrants who do not deserve equal rights” (source)
2. A furore blew up and Chinese leaders were upset and called for an apology (source)
3. Police reports were lodged (source and source)
4. PM said Ahmad did not mean it and that he will tell him not to do it again (source and source)
5. Ahmad Ismail went off the radar and could not be reached for comment even by PM (source and source)
6. Najib apologised on behalf of UMNO for the comment and said it was not the party’s stand and Nazri says there’s nothing wrong in saying sorry (source and source)
7. Ahmad Ismail gives police statement
8. Ahmad Ismail said he was misquoted by the press and asked for an apology (source)
9. Gerakan is vocal on this issue of alleged racial statements (source) and the newspapers stand by the story (source and source and source)
10. Police complete probe into alleged sedition remarks (source)
11. Ahmad calls for Gerakan to be expelled from BN (source)

I’m waiting to see what is the reaction to this latest statement. Will action be taken? Will this shake the coalition? Will this mean September 16 is becoming a reality?

As a citizen I am only worried about my safety especially after statements yesterday about supporters taking to the streets. I’m worried that no action will be taken and that culture of hooliganism will permeate, after seeing the actions of the supporters on tv tearing up posters with glee.

I’ve been involved in a bit of political haranguing lately with mud slinging and dirt being thrown all over the place. Its horrible! And then, we now have SAPP in Sabah creating a fuss by threatening to leave the Barisan Nasional and wanting to call for a vote of no confidence against the prime minister. Strong threatening words indeed but will it materialise?

Already we have the Deputy Chairman of the SAPP party stating that he is confused and embarrassed over the decision of the party Chairman. Of course he is! The Deputy Chairman of SAPP is also the Deputy Chief Minister and Infrastructure Minister of Sabah! He risks being stripped of his post if he supports the motion!

This is precisely why I say that Politics is like a disposable diaper. You wear it until it soils then you discard it and put on a new one. SAPP has used the BN and they are now holding it to ransom on their threats. If they don’t get what they want, they’ll just head on over to the Pakatan Rakyat which is more than happy to gain 2 more MPs in their fold.

2 down, 26 more to go to form a new Government in Malaysia. Will it happen? We’ll have to wait and see how things develop.

After this latest shocker of a 78 sen fuel price increase in Malaysia, the government has announced that the fuel price is now capped until the end of the year i.e. until 31 DEcember 2008.

Don’t party just yet. This is the same Government that said that fuel prices will only increase in August 2008, and the same man that said “Esok Tak Ada” with regards the dissolution of Parliament. This is also the same people who gave the direction not to use the indelible ink during the elections.

This same man told us that the fuel price would be reviewed monthly and that the 78 sen increase would be reviewed from time to time. Since the hike, the price of crude oil has fallen. Would we see a similar reduction in prices? I doubt it.

What else? We aren’t so stupid anymore.

Time to keep that belt tightened and brace for more fuel hikes in 2008.

The police have advised people to let the cops know if they are away from home so the cops can keep an eye on the house. Sorry, its not likely I’m going to do this! In the first place, say what you say, I cannot trust the cops. Our local cops are underpaid and there have been so many stories surrounding crooked cops, I wouldn’t be surprised if I returned to find my house broken into anyway, because the cops know exactly who’s in and who isnt! I wouldn’t even trust the cops with looking after beer pong tables, if I knew what those are! But seriously, why announce to the world that you are away and leave yourself vulnerable. I’d rather take my chances and go away and return quietly. I reckon there’s a lesser chance of the house getting broken into.