Permatang Pasir

Politics is a favourite past time of mine. I am what one might call an “armchair” politician, making comments about each and every political issue but hardly gets off the cosy armchair to actually do something about it. Maybe because I talk so much about politics, one of my colleagues actually suggested that I stand in 2012/13. For Pakatan Rakyat of course. No, we are not being ungrateful or traitorous; we just feel at this point of time, PR is probably the better choice. Thank God the government decided not to filter the internet, if not, I might find myself charged under section 287 subsection 32(b)(iv) “Traitors Act 2009” (Akta Pengkhianat Bangsa Melayu, Tak Mengenang Budi Punya Melayu, 2009) which upon conviction (definitely will be convicted) faces the penalty of 50 years in solitary confinement and forced to read Utusan Malaysia everyday. Solitary confinement? I can deal with that, no problemo, but reading Utusan everyday? Please no! That is most potent torture technique, better than waterboarding* anytime.

Now, why is this posting titled “Permatang Pasir”? A by-election is coming up there next week, PAS vs. UMNO. The opposition’s choice of candidate puzzles me. (In case you don’t know, Permatang Pasir is in Penang and the opposition in Penang is UMNO). Apparently, the candidate chosen is a disbarred lawyer. Kicked out from the bar because he failed to return some money (allegedly RM160,000) back to his clients. Of course his bosses DPM Muhyiddin and State Chief Zahid are defending him to the extent of blaming his partner for his predicament. This is despite the Bar Council coming out to say that lawyers are disbarred as a result of their own misconduct, in other words, you don’t pay of the crimes of others. The candidate appealed to the High Court against the Bar’s decision and lost but yet his bosses chose him as their candidate.

What baffles me is that a party purportedly trying to project a clean and honest image is offering the constituents of Permatang Pasir a tainted individual to serve them.


*a form of interrogation where water is repeatedly poured over someone's face, used in Guantanamo Bay on Islamic “terrorists”.