GE13: Walkabout with Calon BN/MIC N31 Jelapang - Sdra S. Mokan

This afternoon I went to Jelapang to participate in the walkabout with our candidate for N31 Jelapang Sdra S. Mokan. We went around one of the gardens in Taman Rishah and shops to distribute pamphlets and card persuading voters to give Sdra S. Mokan a chance.

Sdra S. Mokan has a team of helpers going round with him in 3 vehicles to do a walkabout to help voters in Jelapang as well as to listen and offer solutions to problems faced.

The N31 Jelapang state seat has a total of 30,079 voters. There are 6.79% Malays, 67.64% Chinese, 25.16% Indians and 0.41% other ethnic group. Sdra S. Mokan is engaged in a 3-corner fight this coming election. The contenders are:

BN/MIC - S. Mokan
DAP - Teh Hock Ke
PSM - M. Sarasvathy

GE13: Walkabout with Calon BN/MIC N30 Buntong - Sdra C. Sivaraj

Yesterday I was with Sdra C. Sivaraj, MIC National Youth Secretary and Candidate for N30 Buntong for a walkabout at the Buntong Market.

Also present ex Buntong State Rep, Dato Yik Phooi Hong who have also come down to help out..

During this coming GE13 the statet constituent of Buntong will see a 4-corner fight this time. It has a total voters of 22,907 comprising of 5.85% Malays, 43.98% Chinese, 49.41% Indians and 0.76% others.

The seat was won by A. Sivasubramaniam with a majority o 5,315.

The 4 candidates for GE13 are:

BN/MIC - Sdra C. Sivaraj
DAP - A. Sivasubramniam (Incumbent)
Ind - A. Iruthiyam Sebatiar
Ind - Mohd Basri Bin Shafie

This time around MIC has been given the task to capture Buntong.

Happy New Year too our Telegu Community

Perak MIC Youth wishes all our friends from the Telegu Community a very happy new year "Ugadi Shubakanshalu".

Hari Penentu - 5 Mei 2013

Hari Penamaan Calon telah ditetapkan SPRM pada hari Sabtu 20 April 2013 dan Hari Pengundian pada hari Ahad 5 Mei 2013

Vote for us and get more cash, BN tells Malaysia - Malaysiakini

Vote for us and get more cash, BN tells Malaysia

Aidila Razak 9:02PM Apr 6, 2013

The atmosphere was electric at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil today as BN told Malaysians that it will dish out more cash if the nation votes them back into power.

In its manifesto launched tonight, BN said the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) welfare aid will be raised from the current RM500 to RM1,200 per family, for households earning less than RM3,000 a month.

A raise was also promised for low-income single individuals, making it RM600 from the present RM250, BN chief Najib Abdul Razak said to roaring applause by 15,000-odd BN supporters at the stadium in Bukit Jalil.

In the event telecast live on state television, Najib said these payments will also not be one-off payments, but be paid out annually.

The 1Malaysia book vouchers (BB1M) will be raised by RM100 to RM300 and aid for schoolchildren raised by RM50 to RM150.

Malaysians could also look forward to car prices being reduced gradually by 20-30 percent and a cut of broadband Internet fee by 20 percent, with guaranteed bandwidth.

The 31-page manifesto also promised to benefit Sabah and Sarawak residents by implementing a one-country one-price policy, while working mothers will benefit from the setting up more 1Malaysia childcare centres, among others.

‘We love BN’

The supporters, who arrived in buses from all over peninsular Malaysia as early as six hours before the event started were in very high spirits, singing and dancing to patriotic songs.

While most put the ‘We Love BN’and BN flags in their goodie bags to good use, some blew into the noisy vuvuzelas, making the event seem like a football match or a concert.

So excited were the mostly youth attendees that the secretariat had to threaten to confiscate the vuvuzelas.

“This is a very important event, not a place to blow trumpets,” the crowd was sternly told.

The crowd roared their support when asked by the emcee if BN would take Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah and Penang.

“For those from Gelang Patah, let’s bury (DAP veteran leader) Lim Kit Siang,” the emcee said to loud cheers.

The participants turned hushed as a video honouring the security personnel who fell in Lahad Datu was shown.

But all rose to their feet and broke into an emotive rendition of ‘Inilah Barisan Kita’ as Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor arrived soon after.

Also receiving thunderous applause was former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who attended with his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali.

Salient points of BN manifesto

Within the next five years, BN is committed to:

• Increase BR1M to RM1,200 for families (from RM500) and RM600 for singles (from RM250), to be disbursed yearly

• Increase 1Malaysia book vouchers (BB1M) to RM300 (from 200), and school assistance to RM150 (from RM100)

• Revise National Automotive Policy and gradually reduce car prices by 20-30 percent to improve competitiveness of local cars

• Increase the numbers of Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M)

• Sell 1Malaysia products at petrol station and hypermarkets

• Set up 1Malaysia clinics in high-density residential area

• Set up more 1Malaysia childcare centre for working parents

• Reduce broadband fee by 20 percent with guaranteed bandwidth

• Implement ‘one country, one price’ policy

New education hub in Seri Iskandar - The Star

New education hub in Seri Iskandar

By EDMUND NGO
edmundngo@thestar.com.my

Much-needed assista nce: Dr Zambry (front row, third from left) with school principals and representatives after presenting the allocation at SMJK Sam Tet on Monday. Also present are state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (second from left), state secretary Datuk Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan (left) and state Education Department director Muhamat Roli Hassan (third from right).

THE state government is set to develop a new education hub in Seri Iskandar, covering an area of more than 404.6ha.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said a blueprint for the development was already ready and he had also seen the proposed design visuals.

“We are focusing on tertiary education, which includes government, semi-government or private universities and colleges.

“The hub will be developed within 10 to 15 years depending on the demands and availability of the institutions,” he said on Monday after presenting an allocation of RM1.47mil to subsidise the utility bills of 232 schools in the state for the first half of the year.

Dr Zambry added that the state government would continue to improve the education system in Perak through the state education blueprint.

“We are among the first few states to introduce new approaches to improve the education quality and produce successful students.

“This can be seen through the special allocations for national-type, missionary, Chinese and Tamil schools in the state.

“Usually, the Federal Government provides the allocation for education. But for Perak, we take the initiative to improve the learning environment and ‘software’.”

Dr Zambry said the state government had spent more than RM176mil in the past four years in scholarships, education loans and utility bill subsidies.

“It is my hope that the rakyat will realise what the state government has done in terms of education,” he added.

Meanwhile, SMJK San Min board of governor chairman Chan Hong Kee said the school in Teluk Intan was overjoyed to receive RM33,558.31 from the state government.

“This is the third year we are receiving the allocation and with a RM4,000 monthly utility bill, every little bit helps.

“Previously without the allocation, we had to raise funds from the public to cater for the 1,600 students at the 84-year-old school,” he said.

Chan added that with the subsidised utility bills, the school could now focus on raising funds for upgrading purposes, such as replacing broken furniture.

For the usual person, RM312 would seem like a small amount but for SJK(T) Ladang Bikam principal J. Annamary, it would mean proper electricity supply for her 27 students.

“Our school is attended by poor students from around the Sungkai estate, which has also been kind in providing free water supply to the school.

“A few hundred ringgit may seem like a small amount but it helps ease the school’s financial burden,” she said.

In Ipoh, SJK(C) Ave Maria Convent principal Tan Lee Ei was also very appreciative of the RM17,404.80 allocation the school received.

“It compliments the allocation we receive from the Education Ministry to pay for the RM4,000 monthly utility bills.

“Previously, we had to raise funds through the parent-teacher association and board of governors but now, we can channel these funds for school development or repairs.

Although SMJK Sam Tet has a whopping RM16,000 monthly utility bill and the allocation it received was only RM13,000, principal Lau Swee Mun said the amount would ease the school’s financial burden.

“We will raise funds to pay the remaining sum. But with this allocation, we have saved money that can be directed to the students’ activities and development, such as motivational camps or co-curricular activities,” he said, adding that 2,153 students enrolled in the school this year

MIC fields local boy to wrest back Teluk Kemang - The Star

GE13: MIC fields local boy to wrest back Teluk Kemang

By A. LETCHUMANAN
letchu@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC will be fielding “local boy” Datuk V.S. Mogan for the Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat in a bid to win back the party's traditional stronghold.

Mogan, who is currently a Negri Sembilan executive councillor, won the Jeram Padang state seat in 2008.

The party leadership felt Mogan fits the “local boy” requirement of the Teluk Kemang electorate, who have traditionally voted for MIC candidates except in the last general election.

Mogan is said to be one of two new candidates fielded to contest the party's nine parliamentary seats.

The other new face is Shah Alam MIC division deputy chairman A. Prakash Rao, who is slotted to contest the Subang parliamentary seat.

Prakash, a Sri Murugan Centre director, is said to have been working on the ground for the past two months and is believed to have made inroads in the Opposition-held seat.

There had been calls for former MIC vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan to be reconsidered for the Teluk Kemang seat but this was shot down by the party leadership. Sothinathan had served in the constituency between 2000 and 2008.

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, will contest in Cameron Highlands, while Datuk S.K. Devamany will move to Sungai Siput.

Palanivel confirmed the list had been finalised with the Barisan Nasional leadership.

Palanivel, however, declined to reveal the names but MIC officials said the list had already been endorsed by Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

In 2008, Palanivel, who was then MIC deputy president, lost in his bid for a fifth term as Hulu Selangor MP when he lost by a mere 198 votes to PKR's Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ah-mad.

In a by-election following Dr Zainal Abidin's death due to brain cancer in March 2010, MIC took the seat back through P. Kamalanathan.

Kamalanathan has been nominated to defend the seat.

In Sungai Siput, Devamany, a party vice-president, is expected to face MP Dr Michael Jayakumar of Parti Sosialis Malaysia, who had defeated then MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in 2008.

Meanwhile, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam is set to defend the Segamat seat.

Another party vice-president, Datuk M. Saravanan, currently Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister, is slotted to be retained in Tapah.

An MIC official said there were discussions to exchange the Kota Raja parliamentary seat with a seat from Kedah but this had yet to be confirmed.

The official said MIC secretary-general Datuk S. Murugessan, whose name had been tossed about for several seats, was believed to have decided to stay out.

Palanivel: Winnable or not, Samy won't be contesting - Malaysiakini

Palanivel: Winnable or not, Samy won't be contesting

Chandravathani Sathasivam, Bernama 7:03PM Apr 5, 2013

In less than 48 hours after claiming he was a winnable candidate if fielded in the coming general election, S Samy Vellu suffered defeat - as his hopes of making a comeback were dashed.

He will not be a candidate in the 13th general election (GE13).

This was confirmed by MIC president G Palanivel that the former long-standing party chief would not contest in the polls.

He said Samy Vellu, who is Barisan Nasional (BN) coordinator for Sungai Siput, had been hard at work in ensuring the BN wrest back the seat which was lost in the last general election in 2008.

“Datuk Seri Samy Vellu has been working hard in Sungai Siput to garner support from the people...but he will not be a candidate,” Palanivel said in a text message to Bernama today.

Samy Vellu had confidently declared that he was candidate material in GE13, following the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Wednesday.
“I am a winnable candidate, there’s no doubt about it. I am willing to re-contest the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat,” Samy Vellu had declared at an event in Sungai Siput on Wednesday.

He was the member of parliament for Sungai Siput for more than three decades since 1974, until he lost his stronghold seat to Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) by a 1,821-vote majority.

‘Winnable’ candidates is one of the main criteria set by top BN leaders in choosing its candidates to stand in the election.

Samy was also the MIC president for nearly three decades until Palanivel succeeded him in 2010.

On the seat allocation for MIC, Palanivel said the party looked set to contest in nine parliamentary seats and 19 state seats.

However, he remained light-tipped on the names of candidates for the 28 seats.

“We are still negotating to swap two state seats in Perak and one in Johor with other Barisan Nasional parties for GE13,” he said.

According to media reports, the MIC would give up the Behrang and Pasir Panjang seats and instead take up Buntong, which consists of a 48 percent Indian population, and another seat, which was still being negotiated.

Parliment is finally dissolved. Perak MB will announce dissolution of State Assembly at 5pm today

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak goes live on national television Wednesday to announce the dissolution of Parliament after the Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya.

PUTRAJAYA: The 13th General Election is on. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak confirmed that the King had consented to dissolution of Parliament on Wednesday.

"I met the Agong this morning and he consented to the dissolution of Parliament," Najib said during a live televised speech after the Cabinet meeting here Wednesday.

The Electoral Commission will now meet to set dates for nomination and polling day, which will be separated by at least 11 days.

However, elections must be held within 60 days of today, that is June 2nd.

The EC has also said that it will hold all state elections simultaneously with parliamentary elections, except for Sarawak which still has three years of its mandate left after holding polls in 2011.

GE13: Perak MB to meet Raja Muda at 2.30pm

By EDMUND NGO

IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir will hold a press conference at 5pm at his office here over the dissolution of state legislative assembly.

Dr Zambry will seek an audience with Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah at Istana Iskandariah at about 2.30pm.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak confirmed at a press conference televised live over all stations that the King had consented to the dissolution of Parliament.

GE13: Samy: Don’t buy into DAP promises - The Star

GE13: Samy: Don’t buy into DAP promises

By A. LETCHUMANAN
letchu@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has hit out at the Opposition for making last-minute promises in a bid to garner Indian votes for the 13th general election.

He said DAP's announcing the party's so-called blueprint for the Indians clearly showed that Pakatan Rakyat, as a whole, was not interested in the community's well-being.

“Why should only DAP come out with a separate blueprint for the Indians when it should be the Pakatan's task? This shows that the coalition is not sincere in helping the Indian community,” he added.

Samy Vellu, who is the Special Envoy for Infrastructure for India and South Asia, said the fact that only DAP had “invented something out of thin air for the Indian community” reflected the double standards practised by the Opposition pact.

DAP, he said, had all the while been seen as a Chinese-based party. “But all of a sudden, it is seen as championing the Indian community,” he pointed out.

Samy Vellu, who is also BN Sungai Siput Parlimentary constituency chairman, said DAP had realised that Pakatan was losing the support of the Indians.

“This is not the right way. They have to be sincere in what they want to do for the Indians. Don't just come out with a last-minute plan to woo the Indians. The so-called blueprint by DAP for the Indians did not receive the support of the Pakatan leadership.

“If it did, why must only (party adviser) Lim Kit Siang announce the so-called blueprint?”

Samy Vellu said Barisan Nasional, under Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's leadership, has rolled out an action plan for the community, which is being implemented.

“The Indians have benefited from this, and they will continue to enjoy the benefits if they vote for the Barisan in the coming elections,” he added.

DAP unveiled a 14-point action plan last Sunday for the community.

The promises include a pledge to resolve the problems of stateless Indians within 100 days of a Pakatan administration.

Kit Siang announced the plan at a DAP gathering in Gelang Patah, Johor, attended by senior Indian leaders that included MPs and state assemblymen.

One of the pledges is to set up a national housing board to build decent and affordable housing for the marginalised groups, especially displaced Indian plantation workers.

Others include making national-type Tamil schools fully funded with good infrastructure, investing in technical and vocational training and implementing a RM1,100 minimum wage scheme.

DAP's new plan for Indians an April Fool's joke? - Malaysiakini

DAP's new plan for Indians an April Fool's joke?

Hindraf 3:30PM Apr 2, 2013

COMMENT We in Hindraf are really sad to see DAP go this way. 

The so-called Gelang Patah Declaration of the DAP is no more than a plagiarised version of Hindraf's Five-Year Blueprint document. Eleven out of the 14 items in the DAP document are straight out from the Hindraf's blueprint.

It came on the 21st day of Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy's Hunger Viratham. It is as if DAP is scurrying to cover its behind against charges of abandoning the cause of the Indian poor. 

Not one of the DAP leaders had anything to say for all of 20 days about the endorsing the Hindraf blueprint - which was the key demand of the hunger strike. On the 21st day, DAP pulled Gelang Patah Declaration out of its sleeves, and within 24 hours.

Look at the timing of DAP's declarations and actions for the Indian poor, just days before the general election. What were they doing all the five years up to now? No action in five years and then, a declaration now.
Penang DAP government did not act

Some of the items in this declaration could easily have been carried out by the DAP Penang government in all five years of its rule, but which absolutely were not:

1. Housing for the marginalised. Numerous, large developments have been approved in Penang in the last five years, but hardly any noticeable effort for the marginalised poor. 

2. Land for temples and burial grounds. Land is a state matter and they could easily have done this in the state in these last five years, instead of talking about it five full years later, in the declaration and just before the coming election. Did this realisation just come to them or is this their standard modus operandi?

3. Land for Tamil primary schools. Worse here. Not only did the DAP government not grant land to the 23 partially-aided Tamil schools in Penang, but requests for land for Tamil schools in the state coming from the parent-teacher associations (PTAs) were ducked, using a variety of techniques. Land was denied outright or the PTAs were manipulated to avoid causing embarrassment to the state government with such requests. 

So, it raises the question: is this DAP declaration merely intended to create an illusion of action, a substitute for real action?

The DAP leaders made a promise to the Kampung Buah Pala residents in Penang in 2008 and they totally reneged on their promise. That is a precedent for the value of all their promises. 

This new declaration is put forward as a promise. We wonder how much commitment there is now to this promise. Whatever was eventually done for the Kampung Buah Pala residents was because of the pressure that was brought to bear on the Penang government. It was not out of any obligation to their promise.

The Pakatan argument against Hindraf's blueprint has always been that it is race-based and not need-based. May we ask what this Gelang Patah Declaration is "based on", when 11 out of 14 items in it come from a "race-based" document? This double speak is so typical of what we have been seeing lately with Pakatan. 

If you have been following the story: the first Pakatan manifesto had zero election pledges addressing the problems of the Indian poor. Then, after an uproar from the people, they included five items into their revised manifesto, with the additional items coming from the Hindraf blueprint. 

Then, seeing that this was not cutting it enough, the number of items taken up, but by the DAP only, has gone up to eleven now.

In 2008, Pakatan hijacked the Hindraf rallying cry "Makkal Sakthi". Now, it is attempting to hijack Hindraf's "Blueprint". It is shameful. Is this all the intellectual capability the DAP can muster? Is copying the best they can do? It is so shameful for a national party to plagiarise. How much commitment can there be in any effort like this?

We are wondering why this Gelang Patah Declaration did not extend to include a very impactful intervention, such as a Felda land scheme allocated for contract farming. Why was this not copied out as well from the Hindraf blueprint, being just a couple of clicks away?

Karpal Singh on March 30 called out to Anwar Ibrahim to endorse Hindraf's blueprint. The next day, his son Gobind Singh is in Gelang Patah, beside Lim Kit Siang, launching this DAP blueprint. What circus is this?

In a YouTube interview, DAP's P Ramasamy (left), the deputy chief minister II of Penang, says there are not even 800 Indian members in DAP nationwide. That is about 0.04 percent of the total Indian population. 

The DAP clearly does not represent the Indians. It has no business putting out an April Fool's plan like this to continue to deceive and fool the Indians in the country. This Gelang Patah Declaration is not to empower Indians but to empower the Indian mandores in DAP. 

Why was this plan not put into the Pakatan manifesto? Why come up with a DAP document now and then seek endorsement from the partners? Why does it sound exactly like what Hindraf is attempting?

This DAP "blueprint" that has been "endorsed" sounds just like Hindraf's moves. Convenient to confuse the people.

Our advice to DAP is to stop this kind of tomfoolery. No more April Fool gimmicks, please. Rise to the challenge with some real stuff.

GE13: Zambry set to battle for Silver State - The Star

April 1, 2013

Air of confidence: Dr Zambry brimming with confidence as he speaks exclusively to The Star about Barisan’s chances in Perak.

Political naysayers predicted that Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir would not last the race when he was given the reins to lead Perak after DAP lost the state by technicality in 2009. The appointed Mentri Besar, however, has brought prosperity to the Silver State and believes the results of his administration will speak for themselves this time.

WHEN Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir took over as Mentri Besar after the DAP-led coalition government in Perak fell in 2009, sceptics predicted his administration too would not last. However, he steered the Silver State towards political stability with an influx of investments and development. It is now a frontline state that the Barisan Nasional is banking on in the upcoming general election. RAZAK AHMAD reports.

Q: It has been four years (February 2009) since you became Mentri Besar of Perak. How have the voters responded to the state government this time?

A: I did not expect to take up the leadership of the state at a time of crisis. But we have managed to further develop the state and maintain stability despite some political naysayers saying the Barisan Nasional government would last only three months (laughs).

The state had been through a tumultuous period but I believe voters can judge which side can better provide stability and deliver on promises. At the end of the day, they will decide based on what have been achieved. They want results, not rhetoric.

Waves of support : Barisan flags along the bridge crossing the Sungai Perak near Bota in Perak.

In terms of results, what has the current state administration delivered?

We improved on the delivery of government services. Ownership transfers (pindah milik) used to take about one-and-a-half years. We cut that to a matter of hours, in some cases.

Exco meetings used to be once in a fortnight but it is now held once a week. There used to be a backlog of 15,000 files requiring the attention of the exco but we have almost cut that down completely.

We introduced the Perak Amanjaya development blueprint to spur economic growth and improve quality of life. Local and foreign investments rose from RM890mil in 2009 to RM2.28bil last year.

It hit a staggering RM9.94bil in 2011 due to an investment by international metal and mining giant Vale SA.

A total of 55,000 jobs were filled in the past four years. Pakatan Rakyat claims to have support from a major chunk of the Chinese electorate, including in Perak. How do you view the Chinese voters' sentiment?

It would be an oversimplification to say the Chinese votes are gone for Barisan in Perak.

The Chinese community is diverse and pragmatic. Thus, Chinese sentiments in the Kinta Valley, Manjung, Taiping, Pengkalan Hulu and Tanjung Malim differ. This is based on many factors, including the performance of politicians in these areas.

For example, I can count on the support of the Chinese voters in my constituency of Pangkor because they have known me for a long time and can judge my performance.

Similarly, if you look at the work put in by Barisan, including MCA underDatuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, in addressing issues faced by the community, I am certain we have an advantage.

How important are the Chinese votes for Perak?

We cannot close the door to any community. Perak is 57% Malay, 28% Chinese and 11.66% Indian in terms of population distribution, the state is a microcosm of Malaysia.

Some people say Perak Government can be formed with a single dominant race. I disagree.

Umno will contest more than 30 of the 59 state seats but the way DAP is playing the game, the fear is that we could get a lopsided representation, with a particular race on one side and another race on the other side.

This will not create a good governing system. We need Malay, Chinese and Indian representatives to reflect our ethnic ratio. So, I hope, voters will help us.

Has there been a swing in Malay votes to Barisan?

Many Malays were caught by surprise when Perak fell to the Opposition but they have witnessed the political instability that continues within Pakatan today.

It is not only in DAP, with the spat between Kula and the cousins but also between PAS and the PKR, now jostling for seats.

(Kula is DAP vice-chairman and Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran while the cousins are Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and party assistanttreasurer Nga Kor Ming, who are both also MPs and state assemblymen).

There have been issues concerning Islam that have made the Malays feel uneasy about the Opposition, whose leaders appear to be spending most of their time bad-mouthing Barisan.

Many are now fed up with Pakatan.

Weaknesses, in terms of party disunity contributed to Barisan's 2008 defeats. Have these been rectified?

There were weaknesses on our part in 2008. We have learnt from our shortcomings and tried to overcome them. The realisation is there and, based on this, I believe we will form a good government if given the chance again.

Another challenge is keeping the political personalities at the divisions on the same page so that those not selected as candidates will not sabotage Barisan. How big a concern is this in Perak?

I have repeatedly told our party members that we have put in the hard work and are now in the final lap and leading the race. If we start fighting about candidates, all the work done will be wiped out.

Our members have experienced the consequence if they sabotage Barisan. They have learnt from the 11 months that Perak was under Pakatan rule. This, I believe, will guide their conscience.

We have been engaging with our members for the past several years on this subject and some have agreed to step aside this time around.

How do you view the shifting of Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang to Johor and taking along with him other DAP incumbents, such as Kulasegaran and Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan?

DAP is overconfident about retaining its seats in Perak and its leaders, especially Kit Siang, now try to expand their turf and hope to make a grand entrance in Johor as conquerors.

But he has to bear in mind that political journeys have a beginning and an end. It could well turn out to be the end of the line for him.

There is also the possibility they are fed up with the spat between the Nga-Ngeh faction and the Kula faction, so better to move out.

There is also talk that Opposition Leader and Permatang Pauh MPDatuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may be contesting in Perak. What do you make of it?

I don't know if he is coming but the level of enthusiasm by his supporters, especially those in PAS pleading for him to contest in Perak, raises questions.

I am a small fry while he is a whale, so why should he come here?

They know they are not able to wrest the state from Barisan, so they need a big name to come here and lead the charge.

If he wants to come, I will fight him in my small fry way but he knows we will never surrender.

There is talk you may be moved to a Federal seat and someone else will take over as Mentri Besar if Barisan retains Perak. Is this true?

This is a non-issue. Speculation about my position has been played up by the Opposition through tweets and blogs for a simple reason. They are hoping to crack the cohesion in Barisan.

They are trying to put me on a collision course with Husni (Tambun MP and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah), Zahid (Bagan Datoh MP and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) and Nazri (Paddang Rengas MP and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz).

I consider these three my brothers and they have publicly stated they are behind me. So, that answers everything.