Police look foolish probing minister after Cabinet clears him, says Kit Siang

Published: 5 February 2015 11:31 AM

The police have been made to look foolish for investigating Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over a racist statement he made as the Cabinet has already cleared the minister of any wrongdoing, the DAP said today.

The party's parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang was referring to police hauling up Ismail over his call for a boycott of Chinese businesses after a statement by the Prime Minister's Department, which defended the minister.

"After the Cabinet meeting, the police today called up Ismail Sabri for investigation over his racist call on his Facebook to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese business, which prompted my tweet: 'Sheer rigmarole when PMO has cleared Ismail Sabri'," the Gelang Patah MP said in Sarikei last night.

"This has only made the police, the overwhelming majority of whom are dedicated and professional officers, committed to the duty to maintain peace and uphold law and order, look very foolish."

Lim also noted that the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar's Twitter had been "strangely quiet" after Ismail's statement went viral although he was quick to take to the social networking site to direct his men to investigate non-Barisan Nasional politicians or civil society members.

"I had occasion to ask Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar whether his Twitter account had broken down or whether Bukit Aman had suffered a breakdown of Internet access, as he had been strangely quiet for several hours on his account.

"It was a few hours after my tweet that Khalid took to the Twitter to say Ismail would be investigated, but all this was only for show, full of light and thunder but meaning nothing," he added.

In a strongly-worded speech, Lim also fired at the Cabinet for coming to Ismail's defence, saying that all 35 ministers have been shown to have "comprehension" problems worse than ordinary school children, who are already several years behind their peers in other countries, as shown in international assessment tests.

"It is fortunate that the 35 Cabinet ministers did not represent the country in these Pisa and TIMSS tests or Malaysia would be 10 or even more years behind other countries," he said, referring to the Programme for International Student Assessment and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study respectively.

"This is because even the average school children would not have made the colossal error committed by the 35 ministers in concluding that the call by Ismail Sabri to Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses was not targeting Chinese traders alone but aimed at all traders."

Ismail, the Bera MP, courted controversy after he wrote in a Facebook post that Malay consumers had a role in helping Putrajaya fight profiteers by using their collective power to lower the price of goods.

"The majority of consumers are Malay, Chinese are a minority, if the Malays boycott their businesses, they will surely have no choice but to reduce their prices," the agriculture and agro-based industries minister wrote on his Facebook page.

He also singled out the OldTown White Coffee chain owned by OldTown Bhd, saying DAP MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham owned shares in the company.

"As long as the Malays don't change, the Chinese will take the opportunity to oppress the Malays," said Ismail.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Department yesterday, following a Cabinet meeting, defended Ismail, saying the minister had not targeted any specific race with his social media post.

Instead, it was "meant to rebuke traders who refuse to lower the price of goods" despite the drop in fuel prices," the statement said.

"The Cabinet meeting is the most disgraceful in the nation's history as the Cabinet ministers just fell short of former Umno youth leaders who gathered yesterday with the 'I am Ismail Sabri' placard endorsement," said Lim.

"It shows that the 35 ministers are incapable of taking a stand on the great rights and wrongs in the country.

"Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, gender or age will have to pass judgement on the quality and character of the 35 Cabinet members, for no Malaysian has brought more shame and disgrace to the country's international reputation and standing than the ministers themselves since the start of the new year." 

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/police-now-look-foolish-probing-minister-after-cabinet-clears-him-says-dap

Thousands pay last respect to Karpal Singh

As the Tiger of Jelutong finally rests, thousands pay tribute
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal April 20, 2014 UPDATED: April 20, 2014 12:03 pm

Crowd at Sri Pinang paying last respect to Karpal Singh

Pakatan Leaders who pay last respect to Karpal Singh include

Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Mat Sabu

GEORGE TOWN, April 20 — In a send-off befitting of the man who championed against injustice, thousands thronged Dewan Seri Pinang here today to pay Karpal Singh their final respects before his cremation ceremony.

Accorded a funeral with state honours, the widely-respected lawyer and lawmaker’s remains travelled in a hearse flanked by police outriders and trailed by his family, friends and hundreds of supporters from his home in Jalan Utama, before arriving 8.12am at the town hall building, a stone’s throw from his legal firm in Green Hall and across the road from the Penang High Court. 

Soon after, a steady stream started trickling in to the lobby, where the late Bukit Gelugor MP lay in state in his glass-topped coffin. 

Cutting across the different races, creeds, ages and genders, well-wishers stood in queue — some impatiently — to say a final goodbye to the man they respected as a fearless warrior in pursuit of justice and the rule of law, and a beloved son of Penang.

In an atmosphere thick with emotion, rife with sadness and grief, Karpal’s children stood in a line patiently as they greeted each visitor who had come to say adieu.

An elderly woman broke down in tears upon viewing Karpal’s body and had to be assisted by security personnel out of the building.

Various personalities — from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Malaysian pop singer Jaclyn Victor turned up today; almost everyone looked forlorn at losing the man who stood unwavering in his beliefs that all were equal in the court of law and whose magnanimity knew no bounds.

Anwar spent a good ten seconds looking over the body of his good friend, lawyer and advisor, before lowering his head and taking a seat next to DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

The scene right now is quite unlike any other; a true testament to the man  who once lived and served his constituents to the very fullest — whether in Jelutong for five terms or latterly in Bukit Gelugor..

Security personnel had to issue reminders to visitors to not push or jostle, as people outside grew restless; wanting to see their Tiger of Jelutong.

Karpal’s casket was half-open, adorned with the Penang state flag, the DAP flag as well as a piece of cloth with the picture of a tiger.

And the numbers are still increasing. People are still coming in, united in their grief, to say their goodbye to the great son of Penang.

Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/as-the-tiger-of-jelutong-finally-rests-thousands-pay-tribute

Pakatan Rakyat must fight hard in unison at By-election

Fatal mistake for Pakatan Rakyat parties to assume that the Kajang by-election is a walkover with Anwar as candidate

The Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional Chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that the Barisan Nasional (BN) is going into the Kajang by-election as the underdog but pledges to work doubly hard to ensure the best possible outcome.

It will be a fatal mistake for Pakatan Rakyat parties to assume that the Kajang by-election is a walkover with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the candidate.

It is imperative that the Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, PAS and DAP speak with one voice and act as one unit not only to secure victory for Anwar in the by-election on March 23, but with a convincing majority greater than the majority won in the 13th general elections on May 5, 2013.

Every vote in the Kajang by-election must be fought and won and not taken for granted.

The Kajang by-election will be contested by MCA, which is holding an extraordinary general meeting tomorrow.

The first thing the new MCA leadership of Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Wee Ka Siong must explain, whether to the voters of Kajang or to the people of Malaysia, is why they had fully supported the stand that MCA should stay out of the Cabinet in three MCA general assemblies – in 2011 and 2012 and the EGM in October last year, and are now doing a somersault.

Will the new Liow-Wee MCA leadership apologise not only to the Chinese in Malaysia but to all Malaysians for this disgraceful and dishonourable “attempted blackmail” of the Chinese voters in the 13GE which failed miserably, and a second apology for changing their stand after three MCA general assemblies, exposing their utter lack of principles and being fully steeped in political opportunism?

(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 22nd February 2014)

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2014/02/22/fatal-mistake-for-pakatan-rakyat-parties-to-assume-that-the-kajang-by-election-is-a-walkover-with-anwar-as-candidate/#more-26696

2013年终回顾马来西亚大事件及探讨未来趋势

       2013年到了年终了！在此回顾大马一年大事件，顺便探讨未来的政治与经济趋势。505第13届大选后至今，朝野的各种动作，真令人民感到摇头绝望。这边厢国阵一连串的涨价起税的措施，那边厢民联执政的雪州大幅度调升议员的薪金，总之人民就是双输。

        505大选，国阵宣言抄袭民联的降车价政策，但执政后就说需要五年才能逐渐办得到！看来或许等下届大选前降少许车价作为“兑现”承诺来赢民心吧？

        国阵胜了首先令人民惊讶的是涨汽油价20仙，接下来提呈2014年预算案宣布削减津贴措施，最大冲击乃宣布2015年4月1日开始征收6%消费税。最近吉隆坡高及300%幅度起门牌税，能源局宣布明年起电费，接着工程部又宣布明年1月1日涨过路费（抗议声中或许推迟至华人新年后实行）。

        时下围绕咖啡店的课题就是涨价，忿民责备那些没有支持改朝换代的选民导致人民吃苦。其实，谈社会课题的人大多数都是城市人。这几个月涨价课题在闹得沸沸扬扬，在乡下却风平浪静，山高皇帝远，反正我种几棵菜钓几条鱼又是一餐！我又没有开车子，没奢侈品，开销不大！51%支持民联，都在城镇，47%支持国阵，都在乡下，然而国阵却执政，无奈乎？

连串涨风会否演变经济萧条？

        一些有经济知识的人士分析，这般的涨风，尤其是实施消费税后，2016年大马或许会进入萧条。下届大选最迟在2018年，若2016年萧条，必定拖到2017年才能够止伤，因此我国可能又会步505大选后尘拖到最后一分钟的2018年才举行。错误政策会积劳成病，所以国阵不要以为现在刚结束大选是蜜月期大肆玩涨政策。

        如果2016年真的出现萧条，对国阵有个坏消息，就是不要忘了砂拉越州最迟在这年州选。甚至砂州提前在2014或2015年选举也未必对国阵有利，因为通膨的火正在燃烧！若砂州变天，就会威胁国阵的全国大选。

        那么你问第14届大选会不会改朝换代？民联三党，我只看到行动党有作为。就在雪州，卸任主席郭素沁说雪州行动党在505大选赢得马来人40%选票，它们要决心下届进一步赢得50%。还有，都是行动党在505大选出尽火力攻打柔佛州，才帮助民联增加七个国会议席。除此，现在行动党在推动砂拉越梦和沙巴梦入乡服务计划。

        而伊斯兰党呢？它们应该先放弃在东马的努力，集中在西马往南马发展。伊党也必须放弃拉拉扯扯跟巫统谈判，斩钉截铁地说服民联支持者它们对巫统已经死心！或许伊党不是真有意跟巫统结合。而是正在玩弄巫统，目的就是让巫统抱着一种希望，事实只在吊吊巫统的瘾！民联要入主中央，必须一直团结。

改变乡下人的思维非易事

        公正党表现如何呢？它们很多党员都是前国阵的失意者，惯于投机，所以跳槽就是他们的本能！目前，公正党最本领的就是揭发国阵丑闻。此举不是不好，希望它们和伊党能够花多点心思下乡铺路，不要让行动党玩独角戏，因为如果不打破国阵掌控乡下票的咒诅，民联永远都是一个在野阵线的！

        至于它们的实权领袖安华，如果他有林吉祥的一半勇气，就谢天谢地了，505大选他敢闯的话或许能使民联险胜国阵！怎讲呢？林吉祥冒险自己的政途，抱着不入虎穴，焉得虎子的决心南征柔佛。许多人呼吁安华攻打霹雳州，以提高民联士气，不但能够增加霹州国席，也可以再执掌霹州。但他感情用事，想打不打，最后不愿放弃自己在峇东埔国会选区，因为要报答从他坐牢起一路来选民对他不离不弃！后果就是伊党和公正党连原有的选区都保不住！安华若要执政，必须勇闯国阵堡垒区，尤其是乡下区！

行动党进入西马乡下，及推行砂拉越梦和沙巴梦的服务策略，会有成果吗？我认为服务未必能使民联成功，必须包括传达理念。举例民联的砂州主席峇鲁便（Baru Bian，公正党）在505大选民联及自己失利后，失望下马上写了一封反省信，他说他不再理会那里的人民了。大选前得到选民的积极承诺支持，民联信心满满，选民却临时得到国阵的些少甜头，为了一碗红豆汤而出卖了族群的利益，可悲吗？“尊严”与“肚腹”，起码未来二十年，乡下人还是会选肚腹。所以我认为民联应该筹更多钱先解决他们的肚腹，等赢了大选后才推行建国政策。

第14届大选成绩谁掌权中央政府？我想，只要乡下人民被国阵掌控的媒体垄断，只要国阵大选前派发糖果，只要选区没有公平划分，即，城镇一个国会过万人，乡下一个国会几千人，国阵就能够继续执政。民联必须比上届加几倍努力才有一点希望！

Najib should save Press Freedom ranking by restoring The Heat

Najib should intervene immediately to restore publication licence to The Heat before it becomes the tipping point to plunge Malaysia’s 2014 Press Freedom Index to the lowest point, even below that of Myanmar

Before the end of the year of 2013 in five days’ time, there is another pledge that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should honour – his pledge to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”.

Nobody whether in Malaysia or outside really believe Najib would transform Malaysia into the “best democracy in the world” but the least they expect Najib to do is not to backslide on his specific promise of democratic reforms.

The suspension of the weekly, The Heat, would be one such unacceptable instance of Najib reneging on his specific promise of democratic reforms to unshackle the press from authoritarian restrictions of the Mahathirish past.

In fact, Najib should be moving forward to repeal the Printing Presses and Publications Act altogether to remove the requirement for the licensing of publications.

The Home Ministry has claimed that Najib is not behind the suspension of The Heat and that the suspension is not related to the report in the weekly titled “All eyes on big spending PM Najib” published for the week of November 23-29.

Nobody really believes in the Home Ministry’s denial and clarification but let us move on.

Najib should intervene immediately to restore the publication licence of The Heat before this incident becomes the tipping point to plunge Malaysia’s 2014 Press Freedom Index to the lowest point in the nation’s history, even below that of Myanmar.

Malaysia already plunged last year to a historic low of No. 145 ranking out of 179 countries in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index – the worst since the start of the annual index by Reporters Without Border (RSF) in 2002.

Malaysia fell by 23 rungs last year, as it was ranked at 122 in the 2011/2012 Press Freedom Index.

This was because of Malaysia’s “sorry record” of the government’s repeated effort to censor information with access to information “becoming more and more limited” as well as the government’s campaign of repression as in the authorities’ “heavy-handed crackdown on the Bersih rally” in April 2012.

As a result, ASEAN neighbours Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia outperformed Malaysia at 122nd, 135th and 139th place respectively.Cambodia stood at 143, two rungs higher than Malaysia despite sliding down 26 spots from the previous year. Other ASEAN countries that had less favourable performances are the Philippines, Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam, which were respectively ranked at 147, 149, 168 and 172.

Noteworthy was Myanmar which was ranked 151, six pspots behind Malaysia, after jumping up 18 places – the second year it had improved its rankings.

Is Malaysia heading towards the nation’s lowest ranking in the history of the Press Freedom Index, even lower than Myanmar, for the coming new year in 2014?

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/12/27/najib-should-intervene-immediately-to-restore-publication-licence-to-the-heat-before-it-becomes-the-tipping-point-to-plunge-malaysias-2014-press-freedom-index-to-the-lowest-point-even-below-that-of/

2013 -- Najib's Two Christmas Messages on Moderation

Najib – Time to prove he is a moderate by deed and conviction not a political chameleon who alternates between moderation and immoderation in his speeches depending on the crowd and occasion

The speeches by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday – one delivered by him at the national-level Christmas Open House in Penang and the other read out for him in Kuala Lumpur by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Paul Low, at the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas Hi-Tea – should have been received in elation by all reasonable and moderate Malaysians but this time, they failed to evoke such a response.

Why? Is it because men and women of reason and moderation in Malaysia have become extremists rejecting the sentiments of moderation, harmony and co-existence preached by Najib in his two Christmas speeches yesterday?

This cannot be so and it is not so.

In his address at the National Christmas Open House celebration in Penang, Najib said both Christianity and Islam have common roots and are Abrahamic religions.

He noted that the Muslims may not be able to accept the Christian interpretation on the concept of God and vice versa for the Christians.

“So, rather than choosing this path of fighting over these differences, it is better that we find a common ground to preserve the peace, harmony and stability of the country.”

He told both groups to understand the sensitivities of each others’ religions so as not to offend one another.

“Muslims should not hurt the feelings of Christians and likewise, Christians should not hurt the feelings of Muslims.”

Very correct and commendable sentiments. Why should Malaysians be divided by an issue which had not been a cause for contention, dissension and division for the first half-century of the nation’s life?

In his speech prepared for the Christian Federation of Malaysia’s Christmas Hi-Tea, Najib said that a moderate and rational approach was needed to keep Malaysia peaceful and harmonious.

“I always believe that differences in religious faith is not a weakening factor in our society, but rather a strong element in nation building for it serves as a constant reminder that we have so much to share in common, the values which are universally accepted like patriotism, peace, love, kindness, helping the poor and needy, social justice and so on.

“We may differ in our faiths, but we are not divided.”

Men and women of reason and moderation have always been guided by these sentiments and values expounded by Najib yesterday, and they should have been very relieved that the Prime Minister is on the same page with them on the need for national policies to be guided by these principles.

Why then have the reaction to the two Najib speeches yesterday been less than adulatory, if not highly suspicious?

This is because the time has come for Najib, in the second term and fifth year as Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister, to prove that he is a moderate by deed and conviction and not a political chameleon who alternates between moderation and non-moderation in his speeches depending on the crowd and occasion.

For instance, when Najib took aim at politicians accused of stirring controversy for political gain and without regard for peace and harmony, Malaysians of reason and moderation fully agree with him – except they would disagree on the identity of the “irresponsible politicians” being referred to.

Najib said that he is aware of disagreements due to misunderstanding on certain issues among the people.

“Time and again, these have tested our resolve to remain a tolerant and peaceful nation. Like all tests that have come before, we have been exercising restraint in our responses yet resolute in defending our moderate and harmonious way of life.

“Irresponsible politicians who only seek short-term fame at the expense of harmony, will constantly evoke the sensitivities and fault lines to portray oneself as a hero for political mileage.

“I have always frowned upon such irresponsible conduct and I trust all citizens will view this conduct nothing but a folly.”

To Malaysian men and women, these “irresponsible politicians” described by Najib are mostly to be found in UMNO, and on a number of occasions not excluding Najib himself, which are clearly not the people the Prime Minister has in mind.

This illustrates the wide gulf between the thinking and perceptions of the Prime Minister and Malaysians of reason and moderation.

How can Najib be the national and even international spokesman of moderation when he has to prove to Malaysians of reason and moderation that he is one of their number?

Najib has said that he is not interested in winning an argument or in winning a legal argument as his main concern is on pursuing harmony, peace and stability for the country.

This is a good basis for the ending of the recent worsening religious fault lines in our plural society and I fully endorse the proposal by the Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam urging the Prime Minister to cement his own call for an end to Muslim-Christian hostility by withdrawing Putrajaya’s legal challenge against the Catholic Church’s use of “Allah”.

The ball is in Najib’s court to act on the message of moderation, harmony and co-existence of his two Christmas speeches yesterday. Will he or won’t he?

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/12/26/najib-time-to-prove-he-is-a-moderate-by-deed-and-conviction-not-a-political-chameleon-who-alternates-between-moderation-and-immoderation-in-his-speeches-depending-on-the-crowd-and-occasion/

Anti-Shia campaign is to divert attention from rising cost of living, says Kit Siang’s aide

BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
DECEMBER 14, 2013

Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud reminded the government that there are many foreign students here who are Shias. - The Malaysian Insider pic, December 14, 2013.The campaign against Shia followers is the government's attempt to divert the attention of Malaysians from the rising cost of living, said Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, the political secretary to DAP leader Lim Kit Siang.

In a statement, she pointed out that Putrajaya had started a campaign against Shia followers a day after the announcement of fare hikes for the LRT and monorail services.

"Once more our nation’s attention is diverted with the Shia issue to cover up the high increase in the cost of living for all Malaysians.

"This is due to the withdrawal of the oil and sugar subsidies, increase in electricity tariff, the proposed introduction of GST, hike in assessment rates and increase in LRT and monorail fares," she said.

She was commenting on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's proposal to include the term Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah to the definition of Islam in the Federal Constitution to protect the aqidah (faith) of Muslims in the country.

The prime minister had said that the move was made after consultation with Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and supreme council member on religious affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom following the recent Umno general assembly where delegates had called for the Constitution to be amended.

"Recently, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also announced that there were plans to establish a special syariah police force just to combat Shia activities," Dyana noted.

However, she pointed out that the minister could have "forgotten" that Malaysia was hosting many international students, many of whom are Iranians who are Shias.

"This is part of the efforts to internationalise and build good reputation for our local universities and to contribute to the nation’s income through the enrolment of international students and the reduction in currency outflow.

"Thousands of these students openly interact with our local students," she said, adding that there were students who followed the Shia teachings in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

She called on Putrajaya to explain if these students would be asked to quit their studies and leave the country as soon as possible.

"If the government is serious about combating Shia, would the international students who spent a fortune to further their studies in Malaysia – invited by our own government – be asked to quit their studies and leave the country as soon as possible?

"Or will they be instructed to only practise their religion in private so that other Muslims in Malaysia will not be confused?

"As mentioned by the Court of Appeal in the Allah case, Malaysian Muslims are prone to confusion," Dyana said, referring to the Appellate Court's ruling on the Allah issue.

Putrajaya should also explain if the campaign to curb the Shia movement was only applicable for Muslims in Malaysia, she said.

"If the definition of Islam is limited to Muslims in Malaysia, does that mean other Muslims in other countries are not deemed as Muslims in our country?" - December 14, 2013.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anti-shia-campaign-is-to-divert-attention-from-rising-cost-of-living-says-k

High-level Pakatan Rakyat GE14 Strategic Council to capture Putrajaya

Top priority for Pakatan Rakyat is to set up a high-level PR 14GE strategic council to plan for the capture of federal government in Putrajaya in next general elections

Congratulations are in order to PAS leaders and delegates for a very successful 59th Muktamar at national, youth and wanita levels, causing great disappointments to UMNO plotters and conspirators who had worked overtime through their printed or social media in cyberspace to sow dissension and distrust within PAS ranks and to sabotage the unity of purpose of Pakatan Rakyat and giving hope to enlightened Malaysians who comprise the majority of the electorate that two-coalition politics in Malaysia is here to stay as it is very much alive and kicking.

PAS Deputy President Mohamad Sabu struck the nail on the head when he pointed out in his winding-up speech at the 59th Muktamar that PAS would only be a regional party confined to the east coast of the peninsula if it had not entered into a pact with PKR and DAP in Pakatan Rakyat.

As Sabu succinctly said:

“Without Pakatan, our area of dominance would only stretch from Rantau Panjang (in northern Kelantan) to Kemaman (southern Terengganu).

“But with Pakatan, we conquered Selangor and, God willing, it will be Johor next.”

In 1999, when PAS benefitted most from the backlash against BN because of the 1998 political and economic crisis, it won 27 parliament and 98 state seats making it the largest opposition party.

However, 93% and 86% of the parliament and state seats won by PAS was in its “Northern” heartland of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

In 2004, as a result of the Pak Lah “Tsunami”, PAS was reduced to 6 parliament and 33 state seats (100% and 94% of which, respectively, were in the Northern states).

2008 marked a significant shift in PAS’s support outside the 4 Northern States. PAS won 23 parliament and 83 state seats in total, out of which 70% and 76% were in the 4 Northern States.

In 2013, PAS won 2 fewer parliament seats (21 vs 23) but won 2 more state seats (85 vs 83) and this time, 67% and 66% of parliament and state seats respectively were in the 4 Northern States (See Table 1 below)

State	1999		2004		2008		2013
	Parl.	State	Parl.	State	Parl.	State	Parl.	State
Perlis	0	3	0	1	0	1	0	1
Kedah	8	12	1	4	6	16	1	9
Kelantan	10	41	5	24	9	38	9	32
Terengganu	7	28	0	4	1	8	4	14
Penang	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1
Perak	2	3	0	0	2	6	2	5
Pahang	0	6	0	0	0	2	1	3
Selangor	0	4	0	0	4	8	4	15
KL	0	NA	0	NA	1	NA	0	NA
Negeri Sembilan	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Melaka	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Johor	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	4
P.Msia	27	98	6	35	23	83	21	85
Perlis, Kedah, K’tan & T’gganu	25	84	6	33	16	63	14	56
Others	2	14	0	2	7	20	7	29
Northern %	92.6%	85.7%	100.0%	94.3%	69.6%	75.9%	66.7%	65.9%
Others %	7.4%	14.3%	0.0%	5.7%	30.4%	24.1%	33.3%	34.1%

Being part of Pakatan has helped PAS venture beyond its core 4 northern states.

The setback faced by PAS in Kedah in 2013 cannot be explained in terms of PAS participation in Pakatan but more so because of internal factors. Similar explanations can be used for the slight decrease in support for PAS in Kelantan.

If being part of Pakatan hurt PAS in the Malay heartland, then PAS would not have made gains in Terengganu.

Moving forward, it is clear that the states which have and will continue to experience the largest population growth in Peninsular Malaysia are Selangor, KL and Johor. These are where most of the new seat increases (parliament and state) will occur.
Many of the new seats will be ethnically ‘mixed’ seats.

Hence, if PAS wants to continue to make inroads beyond its 4 Northern States, it must work together in the context of Pakatan to maximize its Malay as well as non-Malay support. In the 4 Northern States, PAS must look internally to strengthen itself and Pakatan.

Another way of examining PAS’ performance out on a state by state basis is to analyse the % of votes obtained by PAS in the seats contested by PAS in each state.

This information is shown in Table 2 below.

State	Parliament (As a % of Votes in PAS Seats)				Change 1999 to 2013	Change 2004 to 2013
	1999	2004	2008	2013
Perlis	44.5%	35.6%	44.5%	44.7%	0.2%	9.1%
Kedah	48.4%	42.1%	50.6%	46.4%	-1.9%	4.4%
Kelantan	60.5%	47.2%	55.1%	54.4%	-6.2%	7.2%
Terengganu	58.7%	44.2%	44.9%	48.9%	-9.8%	4.7%
Penang	30.0%	28.2%	38.4%	46.8%	16.8%	18.6%
Perak	44.3%	35.0%	48.1%	43.6%	-0.7%	8.6%
Pahang	44.0%	32.6%	39.7%	42.1%	-1.9%	9.5%
Selangor	43.3%	32.6%	51.9%	54.3%	11.0%	21.7%
WPKL	47.5%	27.3%	48.7%	44.3%	-3.2%	17.1%
Melaka	34.0%	21.4%	29.4%	28.9%	-5.1%	7.5%
Negeri Sembilan	34.4%	23.0%	30.8%	39.5%	5.1%	16.4%
Johor	28.1%	17.6%	28.8%	35.2%	7.2%	17.6%
P.Msia	47.5%	34.4%	45.3%	47.3%	-0.2%	12.9%

PAS support in Kelantan and Terengganu reached its highest level in 1999 (60.5% and 58.7% respectively). PAS support in Kedah was the highest in 2008 when it won 50.6% of total votes in the seats it contested in. In 2013, even though PAS support is lower in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu compared to 1999, it is still much higher than in 2004.

At the same time, PAS’ support outside the 4 Northern States have increased significantly since 1999 especially in Penang (16.8% increase), Selangor (11.0%), Negeri Sembilan (5.1%) and Johor (7.2%). This shows that being part of Pakatan has clearly paid dividends for PAS in these states.

Table 2: % of votes won by PAS in PAS contested parliament seats (1999 to 2013)

Being part of Pakatan definitely helped PAS win two new parliament seats in 2013 that it could not have won without Pakatan’s support.

In Temerloh, a 63% Malay, 26% Chinese, 9% Indian seat, PAS won with a 1070 majority with very strong support coming from the 35% non-Malay voters in this seat.

In Sepang, a 59% Malay, 23% Chinese, 18% Indian seat, PAS won with a 1142 majority against a former UMNO Minister again with very strong support coming from the 41% non-Malay voters in this area.

For PAS to win back some of the marginal seats which it lost such as Sungai Besar (34% non-Malay), Kuala Selangor (36% non-Malay) and Titiwangsa (32% non-Malay), it must utilize the strength of the Pakatan brand and cooperation.

It is not just PAS which had benefitted from its partnership in Pakatan Rakyat, as the same case can be made for both the DAP and PKR as well.

There can be no doubt that by forming the coalition, the three component parties of DAP, PKR and PAS could not only individually win greater number of parliamentary and state assembly seats than when they are contesting on their own, they could also achieve a greater sum total of the overall number of parliamentary and state assembly seats countrywide.

The top priority for Pakatan Rakyat at present is to set up a high-level PR 14GE strategic council to plan for the capture of federal government in Putrajaya in next general elections as well as to achieve optimum election results for PR in the various states.

Source: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/11/25/top-priority-for-pakatan-rakyat-is-to-set-up-a-high-level-pr-14ge-strategic-council-to-plan-for-the-capture-of-federal-government-in-putrajaya-in-next-general-elections/#more-25833