D-Day in Permatang Pauh, D-Day for Malaysia

Today is an exciting day for Malaysians. It is D-Day in Permatang Pauh.

Today, 26 August 2008, is polling day for the by-election in Permatang Pauh. Never in Malaysia's history has so much focus, hope and expectations of millions heaped on a single by-election. This by-election is critical because Malaysia's Opposition de facto leader, the iconic and charismatic Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be slugging it out at his home base with BN/UMNO's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, and an Independent unknown, Hanafi Mamat, who had become nearly invisible since nominations day on 16 August. This by-election brings the hope for changes in the country's governance that millions of Malaysians are looking forward to. This Permatang Pauh by-election could be the re-birth of true democracy and good governance in Malaysia.

This by-election is also a Do-or-Die for both sides. The fight is not so much between the two major contenders - Arif versus Anwar. The implications goes beyond these two contenders. The actual battle is between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and and Malaysia's ruling government, the Barisan Nasional (BN). Anwar is seeking a comeback to politics after an absence of 10 years, during which he was sacked from UMNO in 1998 and after that jailed for six years on sodomy charges which Anwar now alleged was fabricated by UMNO, then led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and involving some in the government. As Anwar had often publicly announced since his active return to politics, he is seeking a comeback to overthrow the corrupt UMNO/BN out of government, and formed the next Government of Malaysia, albeit from political crossovers by BN lawmakers to his Pakatan Rakyat (PR, or the People's Coalition).

Anwar was Member of Parliament (MP) for Permatang Pauh from 1982 to 1999, the year he was hit by corruption and sodomy charges that landed him in jail. Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, the PKR President, held the seat for 3 terms until she resigned last 31st July 2008, paving the way for Anwar's return to Malaysian politics. From then, all hell broke loose for the charismatic and ambitious Anwar. Since the General Elections (GE) last March, where the opposition coalition wrested control of five states, Anwar created havoc for UMNO and BN when he repeatedly announced that he will form the next Government come September 16, 2008 as he has at least 30 MPs waiting in the wings to cross as as soon as he enters the House of Parliament. The GE last March heralded a New Dawn for Malaysia, Anwar declared, and he announced to all that he is the Prime Minister-in-waiting. Hence, the significance of today's by-election. This Permatang Pauh by-election is the ticket to head the new government of Malaysia for this Prime Minister-in-waiting. Permatang Pauh will lead the way for Anwar to Putrajaya, the seat of the Government of Malaysia. Hence, the by-election's battle cry: From Permatang Pauh to Putrajaya.

Today, 26 August 2008, Malaysia is on the threshold of a historical event of the political kind. Should he win, Anwar will have put an end to the 50-year dominance of UMNO in leading the BN government. Fifty years is quite a long time - enough time for corruption, cronyism and abuse of power to fester and take root. These are what Anwar claims he want to fight and get rid of. For such noble goals, many Malaysians welcome Anwar with open arms. For many Malaysians, sick and fed-up with all the repressive abuse of power, corruption and cronyism reaching high up in the highest BN echelons, Anwar represents a change - a change, not immediate, but a change nonetheless away from this sickening, repressive and abusive manner in which government of the day is manipulating the people in their desperation to hold on to power. The people are simply tired. The people are fed-up and sick at the revolting tactics the ruling government is using against anyone who dared to stand up to them. Anwar represents that beacon of light that dared to shine and expose to the world the terrible darkness that engulf the corrupt and the evil that is UNMO/BN.

Because Permatang Pauh could spell the political demise of those presently in control of UMNO, led by the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and his Deputy, Najib Tun Razak, all stops were unplugged and all possible means to stop and get Anwar were put into fast drive. The path to Permatang Pauh had not only been difficult and challenging for Anwar, it had been soiled with filth and vile accusations of the sordid kind that could only have been borne from the brain cells of the clones of the devil incarnate himself. Because of the success of the trumped-up sodomy charge of 1998 that had thrown Anwar in jail for six years, a similar sodomy charge was hastily cooked up at end-June/early-July when Anwar was still mulling in which Parliamentary seat he would be contesting. The sodomy charge was similar to that of 1998 in every manner conceivable that it became Sodomy II. It is laughable at how UMNO top officials are totally devoid of any creativity and new ideas at how to get Anwar. The copy-cat sodomy charge is evident of UMNO's desperation to stop Anwar at all costs. The past weeks since end-July have been terribly sad, maddening but mostly embarrassing for many Malaysians to be exposed to all the sodomy charges that only people in UMNO are capable of hurling at Anwar. They even have the stomach to drag such filthon to their holy ground, to the oath-taking by Anwar's sodomy accuser in a mosque in Kuala Lumpur. It is just incomprehensible that the UMNO top officials are blind to the people's true sentiments. They are obviously blinded by their greed and their desperation to hold on to power. I have a strong feeling that for all these bad deeds and all their devious actions and tactics, the UMNO top officials will pay for in Permatang Pauh.

As I write this, it is past 4.00 pm, I am also surfing to see a few websites that give live reports and updates from Permatang Pauh. From noon to nearly 5.00pm, the eye witness reports coming in by the minute say that the voters turnout has risen from 50% at noon to possible 70%-75% by 4.30 pm; the polling stops at 5.00pm. High turnout is great for Anwar. Some reports say that Anwar's majority is climbing over and above 10,000 and could reach 15,000 or possibly 20,000. Another report claims that Anwar has already won, garnering 60% of the votes. Some supporters have started their chants, "Hail to the new Prime Minister of Malaysia!" This are good news for Malaysians and democracy.

Indeed, today looks set to be a good day for great changes in Malaysia. This day looks real good for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This day will bring in a New Dawn for Malaysia. Indeed, today will spell the rebirth of democracy in Malaysia.