Sibu hunts a head

And before the 10th is even open for nominations, we get news of another looming by-election.

This time it is in Sibu, Sarawak. And a politically significant one it is too, since the Sarawak state elections are soon due, and both Pakatan and Barisan have been talking up their chances of taking the state.

For Pakatan, it is important that they make some inroads into east Malaysia, for they would need that should they harbour any hopes of forming a federal government. For BN, its a barometer of how they have managed to shore down their strength since the losses of March 2008.

Central to all of this would be were Taib Mahmud throws his weight, which for now is firmly behind BN. Nevertheless even the PM knows that he still needs to take into account Taib's considerations (read: interests) in the matter before seeing it as a done deal.

The Sibu by-election will thus serve as an indicator of how state elections will go. One would expect the DAP to play a significant role here, given their long time presence in both the seat and the state. However, the hawks in PKR may insist to have this done their way, which to be sure will test the loose coalition's cohesion. One wonders if we will have a repeat of 2008, when a PKR candidate stood against his coalition partner from the DAP, against the late Robert Lau from SUPP.

In any case, one would think that Sibu will have a bigger import than Hulu Selangor, with the bigwigs from both PR and BN making their presence felt.

The federal seats from Sarawak are important, if PR ever hopes to win a Parliamentary majority. While BN's dominance in Sabah and Sarawak saved their rear ends in 2008, they cannot hope for this to always be the case, especially since Ku Li is still stirring up the distribution of oil profits.

It is a well known fact that the profits from oil found in Sarawakian territories is largely used to fund projects in the peninsular. However, if one were to be in Kuching, the development and economic growth is something which would surprise you.

So, would the oil issue play a major role in this by-election ? Will Ku Li be a thorn in BN's side in the run up ? Will DAP's Fuzhou coterie in Sibu be able to pull off a win when they've failed in the past ?

Siber Party of Malaysia (M) will soon meet to see if we should throw our hat into the fray. After all, we do have a competent Fuzhou in our ranks, even if he is mostly silent and on a pork eating frenzy. SiPM (M) believes that even if the Chinese make up 60% of Sibu, the Melanau and Iban people are significant enough to play a role. Time for them to speak up and to be heard, and SiPM (M) will gladly do that if provided adequate amounts of tuak and langkau.

Sarawak is not all about oil and logging. The other natural and cultural treasures it has should also be made known, and we at SiPM (M) will promise to bring more tuak and langkau into the peninsular, thus assisting the Sarawakian economy, should we be elected.

For as we said, either way, we still need good candidates bearing fresh eggs, even if headhunters they may be.

The Blue Pill or the Red Pill, or wait for a Purple Pill ?

And in just two weeks, the circus will start as the country faces its 10th by-election in 25 months in Hulu Selangor. And we say democracy is dead in Malaysia.

Two years and two prime ministers. Two years and two fronts to choose from. Two years, and too much rhetoric from both sides and one prime minister. (The other one fell a sleep often and didnt say much).

The economy has not yet recovered fully, and emigration of our talent is becoming a problem, even as nothing is done to retain the ones we still have.

Racial rhetoric is allowed to flourish as short daggers are openly kissed, the symbolism as clear as it was before when a former youth chief did the same. But then, this is outsourced activism to amphibian bodies.

They hop and croak, in unison without independent thought. Or independent balance in Parliament. They hop when rewards hoped for do not materialize. And smear former allies and colleagues. Are these the ones whom we've entrusted our national policy and federal lawmaking to ?

The other side is not much better either. Preferring theatrics to actual governance and providing the check and balance needed, they lose the sympathy once abundant for the injustice done to them.

One man seems to be saying the right things, but for now he is keeping his cards close to his chest and awaits action against him. Or for an opportunity to present itself.

What then of the choice for the voters in Hulu Selangor ? Who do they throw their ballot for ? How much time will they be able to consider ? No one knows, for even as both the BN and PR are undecided about who they want to field, internal pressures in both parties reek of communal and personal interest agendas. The best candidate for the constituency may just be a pipe dream.

There is a need for a strong candidate. One who holds his weight with refreshing ideas to rejuvenate a country tired of politicking and crisscrossing barbs which serve no purpose. A candidate with strength and wisdom, to know when silence is needed and when the voice of his people must be heard. One who can rise above it all.

Siber Party of Malaysia (M) hopes for a choice all voters across the nation can be proud of.

The real slim shady.

The Hulu Selangor Campaign

A year after a new prime minister, what else is new?

Najib Razak might have announced a lot of initiatives and measures but none have taken bite. We don't have to remind anyone of the alphabets that he has strung along or the fact that he is stringing us along too.

A measure of what he is lies in the Hulu Selangor campaign.

Although the Siber Party of Malaysia (M) is not contesting the seat, we would like to put our points across to the good people of the federal ward.

Are you still falling for the basket of goodies that come before a hotly-contested by-election that appears key to the prestige and popularity of two self-centered coalitions?

Pakatan Rakyat needs to win this one. Well, PKR needs to keep the seat after losing four MPs. As for Barisan Nasional, an additional seat is always welcome as it builds up towards a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Of course, SiPM (M) will decide whether to vote along or against either coalitions. To paraphrase WC Fields - "I never vote for anyone. I always vote against."

But you good folks of Hulu Selangor decide. Just like the rest of Malaysia will have to decide whether Barisan or Pakatan is worthy of their vote. For us, its simple, only the SiPM (M) gets the vote.

We are as real as can be. And heck, we rap too.