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If Ghani goes for Gelang Patah, MCA loses another seat
Published:  Apr 7, 2013 10:15 AM
Updated: 4:10 AM

YOURSAY 'Kudos must still be given to Lim Kit Siang for having the conviction and determination to sacrifice his safe seat of Ipoh Timor.'

Ghani counterstrike could 'paralyse' Kit Siang

your say Ferdtan: Let Johor MB Abdul Ghani Othman contests against DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang. This will increase the temperature of Johor politics.

To Kit Siang, he is going for broke. Losing is nothing new for him. If age permits he would bounced back in no time, like in the past.

However, for Abdul Ghani, to lose is to lose everything - his position in the government and most probably in Umno, and he has to take a backseat as he would be considered a failure.

Even if he were to win the state seat after losing the parliamentary seat, he is sure would not be retained as MB. If the choice is his, will Ghani take such a huge risk that may end his political career?

Kit Siang can scrape through with most of the Chinese votes, half of Indians votes and hopefully a good percentage of Malays votes. PAS, under its vice-president Salahuddin Ayub can play a big part in getting the Malay votes there.

I sense (just a feeling) a surge in Malay support, especially for PAS (which will benefit Pakatan Rakyat), not only in Johor but in the rest of the western urban Malaysia. Whatever you say about PAS, the party's new group of leaders are really something.

Changeagent: A 'counterstrike' was to be expected. Nobody expected this to be a walk in the park for Pakatan. After all, Gelang Patah is a BN stronghold.

But that's all part and parcel of taking a calculated risk. Kudos must still be given to Lim Kit Siang for having the conviction and determination to sacrifice his safe seat of Ipoh Timor. I hope the people of Gelang Patah will vote wisely.

Anonymous #76681287: It is good that Johor caretaker MB, Abdul Ghani Othman, is thinking of putting himself in Gelang Patah. That is what generals are for; not to fight from the rear but to be in the frontline.

That said, I don't think losing in Gelang Patah is that great a deal for LKS (Lim Kit Siang). He has gone through a lot for the country. He and his son have both been jailed and humiliated by the authorities because they stood up for what is right for the country.

Even if Gelang Patah is going to be LKS' swansong, I think he is prepared for it as something must be done, failing which, the 'Darth Vader' juggernaut will be free to steamroll over everybody.

Lim Chong Leong: Where is MCA or Gerakan? All is centred around Umno. MCA has lost Gelang Patah to Umno and there is not even a squeak from them.

But Umno too is only sending in their sacrificial lamb Ghani whom they already want out of the MB seat so that DPM Muhyiddin Yassin can retake the state through his Johor henchman, Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

Quigonbond: I have no doubt that Ghani is a moderate leader, but I also don't doubt that majority of voters in Gelang Patah will give their votes to LKS, because he represents a coalition having a bigger bolder more equitable vision of and for Malaysians.

Also, Ghani does not represent Umno. In the end, Umno is still Dr Mahathir Mohamad - a radical political contortionist. It's time to end the Malaysian grand ailment called the ‘middleman corrupt commission' syndrome.

Anonymous$&@?: Ghani has not confirmed yet if he agreed to run for a parliament seat. You think he wants to give up the MB post to be a MP? Only he alone knows, so don't be too sure he will go for it.

Jiminy Qrikert: To all Indian voters, Chinese support is maxed out at 80 percent, while Malay support is pegged at only 15 percent for Pakatan in Gelang Patah.

So, it is now up to the Indian voters to come out in force and ensure Pakatan wins over BN in Gelang Patah. At least 40 percent Indian support is needed for Pakatan to defeat BN with a 'thin margin of 1.5 percent.' Be there for Pakatan. Vote for change.

Apolitical Observer: What good has LKS done for the Chinese community in Malaysia? Nothing! He only helped his own family to get into his party and in the process killing off many young Chinese professionals in politics.

What did he gain by standing against former Penang CM Lim Chong Eu, defeating this great statesman in an embarrassing way? Lim Chong Eu not only build Penang into a successful state, but he was also instrumental for the successful Chinese community in Penang.

I don't understand how the Chinese can be so ungrateful that they cannot think of all these.

Now, if LKS were to stand in Gelang Patah and Abdul Ghani Othman were to stand against him, no doubt the Chinese will support LKS even though the Chinese has tremendously benefitted from the development brought by Ghani, such as the Iskandar project.

If the ungrateful Chinese can backstab a person like Lim Chong Eu, who is Ghani Othman to them?

Eric Ng: Apolitical Observer's comments are too emotional. Status quo is not an option if Malaysia is to take steps towards a more democratic and egalitarian country. LKS is the iconic figure to forge this change. Give him due respect.

Foo: We are witnessing a very interesting strategy play. On paper, all the mixed-seats are impregnable fortresses for BN.

But anyone who has read ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms' will remember the epic battle of the Red Cliff.

Three factors - time, people and place - all of which fall into place at the right moment and eventually decide the victor.


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